A responding fireman trains his hose at the burning house of Reynaldo Elcontro in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
A man who is said to be suffering from mental health problems allegedly tried to burn his father’s house on Tuesday noon.
Reynante Elcontro, around 35 years of age, was seen hurriedly running down the stairs of his father’s home after a fire broke out inside the room he is occupying.
According to SFO4 Deño Emiliano Jr., fire investigators had enough reason to believe that Elcontro intentionally started the fire after they found a pile of charred clothes under his bed.
Lilette Enduma, who lives nearby, says she heard Elcontro yell about burning his father’s home the night before.
Emiliano also said that other neighbors told fire investigators that the elder Elcontro, who owns the house, had left their home after repeated violent verbal and physical disputes with his son.
The neighbors also suspect Elcontro had developed mental health problems due to drug use.
The fire did not spread to other houses as fire fighters were able to put it out in less than 30 minutes after receiving the alarm at 12:32 p.m. Damage was pegged at P5,000.
Emiliano said that cases will be filed against Reynante if his father decides to file a complaint against him.