Criminology graduate dies in Jaro shop fire

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A Criminology graduate died after an early-morning fire in Jaro, Iloilo City.

Twenty-four-year-old Rostom was trapped inside the family’s burning car repair shop in Barangay Balabago, Jaro.

His siblings and other relatives survived the incident.

Reports said the Bureau of Fire Protection-Iloilo City received a call at about 3:05 a.m. Feb. 16.

Firefighters responded and brought the blaze under control at 3:39 a.m.

About 15 minutes later, the BFP declared the fire out.

After the smoke cleared, BFP personnel and Rostom’s family learned he had been left inside the shop, which was reduced to ashes.

Rostom had been living in Valderrama, Antique, with his wife and only child, according to reports.

Several days earlier, his father, Lito, asked him to go to Iloilo City to help with work at the shop.

Rostom was supposed to arrive in Iloilo City on Feb. 14 but arrived the following day, the reports said.

He allegedly slept in one room at the shop while his younger brother, Boyboy, and his 26-year-old sister, Rea, and her two children, ages 1 and 4, slept in another room.

Lito said he slept in their mess hall outside the shop while his wife left at about 1 a.m. to go to the market.

Rea said she was not aware Rostom had arrived and initially thought everyone had survived.

Fire Supt. Melanie Habawel, the BFP-Iloilo City fire marshal, said investigators were still working to determine the fire’s cause and point of origin.

Habawel said initial information pointed to a possible electrical short circuit.

Reports said Rostom may have tried to escape but was struck by a hard object and knocked down.

The victim planned to take the Criminology Licensure Examination this year, according to reports.

Habawel said damage to property was estimated at PHP 65,000.