Roxas police file arson case over house fire

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — Police filed an arson complaint Wednesday, Sept. 9, against a man accused of setting his family’s house on fire last week.

Amelita Ballos confirmed that the Roxas City police filed the complaint against her son, identified as alias “Mac-Mac,” before the City Prosecutor’s Office.

Mark Anthony Ponsaran Ballos was arrested after allegedly setting fire to his family’s house Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 2, in Hermano Subdivision, Barangay Punta Tabuc, Roxas City.

According to his mother, her son allegedly used a lighter to set fire to their house, which was made of light materials, causing the flames to spread quickly and destroy the structure.

She said the family decided to file an arson complaint against him.

Amelita described her son as stubborn, prompting her other children to move into their respective family homes nearby to avoid trouble.

She said her son apologized after allegedly setting their house on fire and partially damaging two neighboring residences.

A concerned citizen informed police about the incident at around 5:35 p.m., prompting officers to respond.

Firefighters from the Bureau of Fire Protection-Roxas City, together with the Capiz Citizens Action Group Inc. and the Federation of Roxas City Fire Rescue Volunteers Inc., also responded to the incident.

The suspect was arrested and brought to the Roxas Component City Police Station for investigation and proper disposition.

Arson investigators estimated damage from the fire at PHP 68,750.