By JEL SANTOS
An alleged drug user, who tried to commit suicide by burning himself alive, surrendered to cops after around two hours of negotiations yesterday morning in Pasig City.
Senior Supt. Orlando Yebra Jr., Pasig City police chief, identified the alleged drug user as Albert Torreon, 47, of Barangay Pinagbuhatan, Pasig.
Investigation showed that at around 10 a.m., Torreon set his house in Barangay Pinagbuhatan on fire.
The Bureau of Fire and Protection Pasig (BFP) extinguished the fire that Torreon started.
Torreon then went out of his house bringing a caliber .38 revolver, telling cops that he wants to die and scolding them for putting out the fire.
“He was bringing a gun when he went out. He just went out after the BFP extinguished the fire,” Yebra said. “He was angry at authorities for putting out the fire.”
According to Yebra, the wife of Torreon helped them negotiate with the alleged drug suspect.
“We used his wife to negotiate with him. We went to the workplace of Torreon’s wife to seek her help,” the police chief said.
After about two hours talks, Torreon surrendered to the authorities at 12:45 p.m.
“His wife softened his heart,” Yebra said.
Probers were told by neighbors that the couple were heard quarreling over jealousy.
Police learned that he is a known drug user in their area.
Torreon is now put behind bars and is currently held at the Pasig City police headquarters’ detention cell.
