Woman dies in C’postela blaze

A WOMAN tied to a post died in a fire that destroyed her home in, barangay Estaca, Compostela town, northern Cebu yesterday morning.

Josephine Bitoon Mahinay, 41, reportedly suffered from mental illness. At least 12 houses made of light materials were also razed.

Police said they received the alarm at 8:30 a.m. The fire was declared under control after 15 minutes.

A defective ceiling fan that overheated was believed to have caused the fire which originated at the house of Luciana Mahinay, the victim’s mother.

Josephine’s leg was reportedly tied to a post by her parents to prevent her from leaving home.

According to the victim’s mother, Josephine would usually pick up a fight with the neighborhood children, PO2 Emil Rubilla said.

The mother was outside the house doing the laundry when the fire occurred. Luciana tried to go inside the house to save her daughter, but the fire had become bigger. /reporter Joy Cherry S. Quito