3 killed in Maguindanao fire

COTABATO CITY — A fire of still unknown origin razed some 100 houses in the fishing village of Taviran in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, on Tuesday night, leaving at least three persons dead, police said Wednesday.

Senior Superintendent Rodelio Jocson, Maguindanao police director, said the Bureau of Fire Protection was still investigating the fire that took the lives of three Benito siblings, one of whom was identified  as Bai Lynka, 25.

Jalen Benito, the victims’ mother, said her children were asleep inside a room when the fire engulfed the house made of light materials at past 9 p.m.

Benito said her husband and their son were at the fish-landing area during the conflagration that rendered nearly 500 villagers homeless. The fire damaged a portion of the Arnel Datukon National High School.

Jocson said Maguindanao fire fighters managed to extinguish the blaze around 11 p.m.

An estimated P5 million in property went up in smoke, he said.