SunStar Cebu, Oct. 26, 2005
CEBU CITY -- A seven-year-old boy died inside his home while his two brothers were badly burned when a fire broke out at dawn Tuesday in Sitio Looc, Barangay Poblacion, Liloan.
Jaddred Lañas’ body was found crouched under the bed. Jaddred's brothers Wilkins, 14, and Wesley, nine, are at the Perpetual Succour Hospital for their injuries.
No one knows how the fire started, as all four children inside were asleep.
However, their relatives blamed their mother Geraldine, 36, for leaving her children alone.
Their father Nestor, a seaman, was not around because he was in Subic for training.
Since the year 2000, at least 24 persons, nearly all of them children, have died in fires that began while they were left to fend for themselves at home.
Geraldine’s sister, Ethel Malagar, told a Sun.Star news team that Geraldine often left her children behind.
Often out
We have no idea where she goes. Sometimes, she comes home at 9 a.m. or at noon,” Malagar said.
The children were reportedly left in the care of their 17-year-old sister Jezzelle.
Malagar, who lives nearby, said that before the fire broke out at 1:45 a.m., she heard a noise outside that sounded like a piece of glass was being thrown against a wall.
The next thing she knew, the house, with four sleeping children inside, was on fire.
They do not believe the fire was an accident because the house had no electricity. Geraldine reportedly failed to pay the bills, which reached P29,000.
Malagar added that Jezzelle, 17, had blown off the candle before they went to sleep.
Narrow road
When the fire broke out, neighbors scrambled to wake them up.
Wilkins’ hair was in flames when he got out, while Wesley fainted and had to be dragged away from the scene.
Jezzelle also suffered minor burns.
When she realized that Jaddred was still inside, she screamed for help. Neighbors tried to break in, but the roof had already caved in.
The town’s fire truck also had difficulty entering the narrow road.
Malagar said that another brother, Nike, 16, was not home at the time because he was out with friends.
He only learned that their house was on fire after he heard sirens heading towards Sitio Looc.
At that time, Geraldine was out. She later told her father and sister that she was sent on an errand by a certain Menchu.
Malagar said that had she been home to take care of her children, Jaddred would not have died.
Tough love
She said Geraldine had been staying out since last year. She was ready to leave her husband, but Nestor reportedly said he was willing to give her one more chance.
Malagar also said that there were several people who were mad at her sister, including a jeepney driver’s wife. She added that Geraldine had several unpaid debts and may have angered one of her creditors.
Also, the night before, Malagar said that someone called the house looking for a certain Nike (pronounced Nayk).
She said there was no one in her house by that name, but that her nephew Nike lived next door.
Malagar said that their family was not going to defend Geraldine if the police or fire department decides to file a case against her for negligence.
“Maayo siyang pataga-mon (She needs to learn her lesson),” she said.
