GENERAL TRIAS CITY, Cavite – A man believed to be drunk set his house on fire at Parklane Subdivision in Barangay San Francisco here before dawn Tuesday, killing himself and his two children.
Senior Supt. William M. Segun, Cavite police provincial director, identified the fire victims as 46 year-old electrician Gerymil Labitag Manaog, his 2 year-old daughter Gerymilee Manaog, and one year-old son Gerymaya Kent Manaog.
Initial investigation show that the Manaog patriarch locked himself along with his two children before burning the house around 2 a.m. on Tuesday.
Further investigation revealed that prior to the incident, Manaog, who was allegedly under the influence of liquor, threatened to kill her common-law wife, Clarita Boca De Vega, and their 7 year-old daughter during a heated argument outside their home.
A witness said the couple’s argument worsened as the father shouted “sa bahay na lang tayo mag-usap” (let us settle this at home), but Clarita and her daughter left their house instead to seek help from barangay tanods (village watchmen), who in turn called the attention of San Francisco village officials.
Then, neighbors suddenly saw that the house made up of light materials was on fire. They tried to open the door but Manaog has apparently set the double lock, which made it difficult for the responders to open the door.
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel responded to the fire but they only managed to put it out after more than an hour.
Scene of the crime operatives (SOCO), led by Police Chief Inspector Fernando Ferilla, later recovered the charred bodies of Manaog and his two children.
The remains of the three victims were brought to a funeral parlor for autopsy. (Rogelio Limpin/PNA)
