BACOLOD CITY – Two suspected thieves who allegedly triggered the biggest fire that hit this city with six casualties this year were arrested last Friday.
Police Major Jovil Sedel, head of Police Station 1, identified the suspects as Venancio Valeriano, 27, of Barangay Amayco, Murcia, Negros Occidental; and Rodolfo Inson Jr., 23, of Barangay 40, here.
Police arrested Inson first in Barangay 27 and proceeded to Murcia where Valeriano was apprehended following their two-day monitoring on them.
They were apprehended after some witnesses identified them as responsible behind the blaze at Java Pension House on Gonzaga St. last Tuesday, which claimed the lives of six persons, including the owner Christopher Java.
Sedel said that the blaze broke out when the two suspects along with their unidentified companion allegedly robbed a helmet from a motorcycle parked on the ground floor of the pension house where the fire started.
He said the suspects’ unidentified companion used a lighter to burn and cut the helmet strap. A loud explosion then followed when the embers reached the engine of the motorcycle which caused the blaze, he added.
The blaze also damaged six adjacent small business establishments. The Java Pension House blaze left an estimated P5-million worth of damage.
Sedel said the suspects had previous cases for illegal gambling, theft, and robbery.
Inson said that it was not their intention to cause the blaze but he admitted that they stole the helmet and sold it for P150.
He said it was their other companion who directly caused the blaze. They regret what they did.
Both suspects are detained at the police station for the filing of multiple charges while police are still conducting follow-up operation regarding the whereabouts of the other suspect who directly caused the fire. (Glazyl Masculino)
