Car of mayor’s son catches fire in Medellin

A sports utility vehicle (SUV) owned by the son of Daanbantayan Mayor Ma. Luisa “Malou” Loot caught fire in barangay Don Virgilio Gonzales, Medellin town, northern Cebu.

The Ford 150 with plate number MVL-08 was driven by Kerwin Arriesgado, 35. Arriesgado, his passengers Crecenciana Mainit, 45; a 2-year-old son of Cebu Provincial Board Member Sun Shimura; and PO3 Ryan Castro of the Daanbantayan police were unharmed.

Mayor Loot said the vehicle, which was acquired by his son Louie last year, was headed to barangay Dayhagon to bring her 2-year-old grandson to a masseur when it caught fire around 7 a.m. yesterday.

Arriesgado said that while they were traveling, the vehicle’s airbag suddenly popped out and the steering wheel locked up.

Arriesgado said he parked at the road when he started to see smoke and they immediately got off.

SFO3 Antonio Godinez of the Medellin fire station said they arrived at the fire scene at 7:10 a.m. and put out the fire five minutes later.

Castro’s service firearm, an M4 assault rifle which was left inside the vehicle, was burned.

Police said an investigation is in progress to determine what caused the car to catch fire. REPORTER RHEA RUTH V. ROSELL