BACOLOD CITY – The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) filed arson charges against a couple on Thursday, a day after a big fire gutted almost 60 houses in Barangay Calindagan, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.
The criminal complaint was filed before the City Prosecutor’s Office against Rogen Monceda and partner Luisa Mateo.
They were arrested in a nearby store after the fire incident. Both are now detained at Dumaguete City Police Station.
SFO3 Edwin Nazareno, BFP’s chief of operations, said the couple was identified by some witnesses as allegedly responsible for the blaze that hit a residential area and left an estimated P300,000 worth of damage.
Based on the statements of witnesses, the couple set their two-story house on fire after having an argument, Nazareno said.
He said that according to the couple’s neighbors, they would usually attempt to burn their house when they argue.
The couple, however, kept on denying the accusations against them, he said.
He said the BFP is still waiting for the final assessment of the barangay as to the number of affected households.
The fire victims are temporarily sheltered at Dumaguete City High School and the village’s gymnasium. (Glazyl Masculino)
