Roxas City fire victims receive aid

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — Five families whose houses were razed by fire Monday, May 18, in Barangay Adlawan, Roxas City, received assistance from the city government and the office of Capiz 1st District Rep. Howard Guintu.

Percy Cordova, head of the City Social Welfare and Development Office, personally turned over financial assistance, food packs, kitchen kits, and sleeping kits to the victims Wednesday morning, May 20.

The city government will also ask the National Housing Authority to extend assistance to the five affected families.

The staff of Guintu also distributed rice and food packs to the fire victims.

Four houses were totally destroyed, while another was partially damaged by the fire that broke out Monday evening in Barangay Adlawan.

Adlawan Punong Barangay Maaw Roldan said the affected houses were owned by Yelen Joe Tomasa, Joe Rowie Tomasa, Jestony Jaspio, Cyril Tomasa, Joenel Dadivas, and Rowena Tomasa, a barangay treasurer.

The Bureau of Fire Protection in Roxas City has yet to determine the cause and origin of the fire, considering that the houses were adjacent to one another.

A resident identified only as alias Dodoy was injured after being hit by a roof pulled down by rescuers.

The affected residents temporarily evacuated to the barangay hall while the BFP Roxas City investigation is ongoing.

There were allegations that the fire may have been intentionally set by one of the house owners for an unspecified reason.

Cyril Tomasa, one of the victims, said he believed the fire was intentionally set by his nephew, identified only as alias Joshua.

Tomasa recalled that around 4 p.m. before the fire, a heated altercation occurred between their families, during which alias Joshua allegedly warned and threatened to burn their house.

He said some neighbors heard the alleged threat.

A few minutes later, a fire broke out and spread to adjacent houses.

The BFP Roxas City placed the initial damage at PHP 137,500 while its investigation continues.