A 62-year-old laborer was arrested by police for allegedly burning down the house of his neighbor in barangay Pugalo, Alcoy town, southern Cebu on e Saturday afternoon.
Saturnino Jimenez denied any wrongdoing.
But a neighbor, Kira Dingding, identified Jimenez as the one who set the house of Eduardo Cabahig, 68, on fire, said PO3 Emilio Carungay, investigator of the Alcoy Police Station.
Police said that before the house was burned down, Cabahig and Jimenez were drinking and the two men ended up arguing about different religious beliefs.
Jimenez left after the argument.
It was around 5 p.m. when Cabahig was informed by Dingding that his house was on fire.
Cabahig rushed home but his house was already razed when he arrived. The fire also killed the man’s poultry.
Fire damage was pegged at P43,000.
Cabahig reported the arson to the police station which led to Jimenez’s arrest.
Police later learned that the two men had an argument last month over the same issue.
Police said it was the second time that Jimenez was accused of arson.
Jimenez was accused of burning down the house of a relative last year.
No case was filed after Jimenez and his relative reached an amicable settlement.
A complaint for arson will be filed today against Jimenez before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutors’ Office, said police.