PCO chief’s house damaged in QC fire

A fire broke out on Wednesday in a residential area in Quezon City, damaging at least four houses, including one belonging to Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil. The blaze started around 8 p.m. at the New Capitol Estates 1 Subdivision in Batasan Hills and quickly engulfed Garafil’s home. SFO4 Mark Modia, from the QC Fire Department Investigation Branch, told the Inquirer that the cause of the fire was still under investigation. “Ma’am [Garafil] is okay, she is currently staying with her relatives,” he said. Firefighters placed the blaze under control after about two hours. No one was reported killed although an elderly Korean man was brought to East Avenue Medical Center for second and third-degree burns. The damage to property was estimated at P7 million. —RUSSEL LORETO