Visayan Daily Star, September 28, 2006
A 70-year-old retired teacher was burned to death and two other residents sustained third degree burns in an early morning fire yesterday in San Jose Extension, Barangay Taclobo, Dumaguete City.
Killed when her house was razed to the ground was Norma Mercado Abubakar. Her grandson, Khalil Ballesta, and a tenant identified as Rotelio Montaņo, sustained only third degree burns, arson investigation showed.
Khalil tried to save his grandmother, but to no avail, because the fire quickly engulfed the room where it originated, investigation added.
He said he tried to destroy the wall of the adjacent room to save her, but failed because it was too hot already. He sustained burns on his left and right shoulders.
Duty investigator F02 Rico Bandeling said the fire department received the information from an unidentified motorist who came to the station at 2:03 a.m. yesterday.
Chief of the Bureau of Fire Protection C/Insp. Arnulfo Sayson said that, the fire originated at the room of Abubakar and was caused by an unattended lighted candle placed on top of a plastic cabinet, that melted and ignited the fire, he said.
Estimated damage to property was P200,000, including the personal belongings of the other tenants, Nena Antonio, Crispin Lumaya, Jonathan Calimutan, Montano, and Ballesta.
