Pa, 3 kids perish in fire

A father and his three children died when their house was engulfed in flame in Sultan Kudarat town, Maguindanao province early morning yesterday, authorities said.

Chief Supt. Graciano Mijares, director of Police Regional Office-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, identified the fatalities as Daemus Araneta, 46; and his children, Vina, 8, Dagul, 6, and Mujahid, 4 — all elementary school pupils.

Reports said Araneta’s wife is working in the Middle East as a domestic helper.

Initial investigation showed the fire broke out at Sitio Niyog at 2:30 a.m. from one of the houses that was made from light materials.

At least six houses were destroyed by the blaze.

The Bureau of Fire Protection had yet to establish the cause of the fire.

Meanwhile, the victims were laid to rest yesterday in accordance with the Islamic tradition.