Janitor in Negros Occidental faces arson raps, tries to kill self
Negros Occidental map. INQUIRER FILES
BACOLOD CITY — An arson complaint was filed Tuesday against a janitor at the San Carlos City Prosecutor’s Office in Negros Occidental for the burning of a school and the houses of Mayor Renato Gustilo and his grandfather.
The 58-year-old janitor, whose name was withheld by the police, attempted to kill himself by slashing his wrist on Sunday, Gustilo said.
READ: School principal shoots to death teacher, husband before killing himself in Negros Occidental
He was rushed to the San Carlos City Hospital and is under police guard to prevent a similar incident from happening.
Lieutenant Colonel Nazer Canja, San Carlos police chief, said the janitor had claimed responsibility for setting a school on fire, which spread to two houses at Ylagan Street in San Carlos City on June 14.
The Bureau of Fire Protection placed the destruction to Daisy’s ABC School and the two houses in an adjacent compound at P20 million.
The janitor said he was angry because he was informed that he would be laid off from Daisy’s ABC School effective June 15, so he decided to burn it.
Canja said the janitor bought a gallon of gasoline that he placed beside a lighted candle in the school stockroom to set off the fire.
The janitor said he intended to burn only the school, not the mayor’s house.
Canja said the janitor turned himself in on Saturday, June 15.
The janitor was allegedly terminated from his job for failing to do his tasks and for smelling liquor and smoking on the school premises.
