DAVAO CITY — A man who just separate from his wife lit his rented room which resulted to the burning of 60 more houses and 7 classrooms in Barangay Leon Garcia, Agdao District, early morning of September 3.
No serious injuries nor casualties reported, fire officials declared fire out at around 5:00 a.m and the damages was estimated at P1-million.
Davao City Fire District Intelligence and Investigation Section chief Senior Fire Officer 3 Ramil Gillado in a text message, identified the suspect Roberto Lingasac Mananlong, 44, a renter of the boarding house owned by a certain Rose Manguidatu.
Witnesses told investigators they saw Mananlong lit his room in Purok Sto. Niño, Gotamco around 3:00 a.m., of September 3.
However, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), talked to Mananlong’s boardmate who testified that in the evening of September 2, he noticed the unusual behavior of the latter.
The same boardmate told the police that at 2:00 AM of September 3, he heard noise coming from the Mananlong’s room while attending to his child. It was then that he saw the suspect pouring gasoline on the floor and later lit it, which prompted him to evacuate his family for safety.
The houses in said area are mostly made of light materials conflagration followed which burned 60 more houses and seven classrooms of the nearby Manuel Garcia Elementary School.
The Sta. Ana Police Station immediately arrested Mananlong after the witness positively identified him.
There were no serious injuries and casualties reported and was declared fire out at around 5:00 a.m and the fire incident has cost around P1 million damages.
Gillado said Mananlong, who is currently detained at Sta. Ana Police Station, will face charges for arson.
Gillado revealed if they can prove that the suspect deliberately burn his room which demolished other houses and 7 classrooms, the fire will be considered intentional in nature and he will be charger for arson.-Armando B. Fenequito Jr.
