Elderly couple loses home in Panay town fire

By Felipe V Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Properties valued at around P120,000 were lost to a fire that gutted the home of a senior couple at Sitio Pang-pang, Barangay Tico, Panay, Capiz, shortly before midnight on April 28.

Jonathan Villaraiz Sr., 65, and Nancy Villaraiz, 57, watched helplessly as their home was razed. The Panay Bureau of Fire Protection reported the blaze started around 9:30 p.m. and was extinguished by 12:14 a.m., with teams from neighboring towns and Roxas City responding promptly.

Constructed from a combination of light and concrete materials, the residence could not withstand the flames.

Nancy Villaraiz suffered first-degree burns on her hand and upper body while attempting to salvage possessions amidst the chaos.

Authorities have launched an arson investigation to determine the fire’s cause.

In a separate incident, the rest house of former Barangay Bato Roxas City punong barangay Antonio Besana was completely destroyed by a fire of unknown origin in the early hours of Monday, April 29.

Besana’s rest house, built from light materials, is now under investigation by the Roxas City Bureau of Fire Protection.