Toilet burned; drunk man sets house on fire

A house and a communal toilet were razed in two cases of alleged arson in Lapu-Lapu City.

The two fires happened in a span of one hour yesterday.

In barangay Gun-ob, estate broker James Camara, who is also reportedly a councilor in Carmen town, was accused of burning a comfort room at 11:27 a.m.

The comfort room worth at least P7,000 was owned by four families.

Remedios Dejon, one of the owners of the comfort, said Camara had been forcing them to vacate the lot where their houses were built.

Dejon said they were told by Camara to vacate the lot since it as already sold to a certain Dr. Villacin.

Dejon said they refused to leave since there is still a pending case in court where two parties are claiming ownership of the house.

Because of the dispute, the lot was fenced and a security guard was deployed in the area.

Camara and two unidentified men arrived in the area and were seen talking to security guard Willy Ranque of Ruiz Security Agency.

Ranque told police he later saw the comfort room on fire.

The security guard said Camara told him the comfort room deserved to be burned before leaving on board a black car.

Dejon and six other families were willing to file charges against Camara, said SFO1 Atelano Berido.

About an hour later, a house in sitio Buyong, barangay Maribago, was set on fire allegedly by a drunk 35-year-old man.

Junrey Cacha, 35, was accused of burning a house owned by his grandfather Ramon Igot, 70.

Cacha allegedly went wild because of drunkenness.

Police said before burning the house that Cacha allegedly shot two hogs owned by a neighbor. One of the pigs sustained three bullet wounds.

Responding police arrested Cacha, who yielded an unlicensed revolver.

Damage was pegged at P50,000./CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA