BFP builds case vs CDO fire suspect

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is building a case against a barber who surrendered and admitted setting the fire that destroyed about 90 houses and displaced around 400 residents in Sitio Sta. Cruz 2, Barangay Lapasan, below the hilltop complex of the Northern Mindanao Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters last Thursday.

The suspect, identified only as “Delmore,” surrendered to Mayor Klarex Uy during the weekly Serbisyo sa Bayan in Barangay Carmen. He admitted setting the fire but said he intended only to burn the house of his former live-in partner. The fire, however, spread to neighboring houses.

Delmore was turned over to police but was later released pending the formal filing of charges.

BFP arson investigators said they are still building the case for filing before the prosecutor’s office because the suspect’s admission was made outside court.

The fire broke out at about 2:55 a.m. at the house of Carol Gamutan and quickly spread through the community, where many houses were made of light materials. It was placed under control at around 6 a.m.

Residents reported hearing several explosions as the fire swept through the area.

Responding firefighters initially had difficulty entering the community because of illegally parked vehicles along the access road. Firefighters eventually interconnected their hoses to reach the burning houses.

Firewalls helped prevent the flames from spreading uphill toward Camp Alagar, the regional PNP headquarters.

No injuries were reported.

Initial investigation showed that a man allegedly threw an eco bag into the terrace of Gamutan’s two-story house.

Gamutan told BFP investigators that her former live-in partner, Delmore, was seen near her house shortly before the fire broke out.

She said she and her daughter had been staying at a neighbor’s house after Delmore allegedly harassed her following their breakup earlier this month.