Man sets apartment, self ablaze

CEBU CITY, Philippines―A man believed to be high on drugs on Wednesday set on fire an apartment he used to rent in Cebu City and locked himself inside.

Abel Brasa sustained burns on the upper part of his body and was brought to the hospital for treatment.

House owner Fe Ablasa said Brasa went to their house in Barangay Guadalupe at around 8 a.m. Wednesday and brought a plastic container with him.

She was washing clothes and did not mind Braza enter her house.

Braza used to rent a room on the second floor of Ablasa’s house. But he asked him and his live in partner Riza Cañete to leave two months ago because of unpaid rentals and loans amounting to a total of P16,000.

Ablasa said she thought Braza only came to retrieve some clothes and housewares which he left inside their rented room.

While she was washing her clothes, she saw Braza pour liquid contents from his plastic container which she suspected was kerosene to the ground floor and lighted it.

But the fire also caught Braza who locked the door of the house and went to the second floor.

Neighbors were shocked to see Braza on fire standing on the terrace on the second floor.

Ablasa said the neighbors helped her open the door and pour water on the appliances which were on fire.

They also poured water on Braza’s body and brought him to the hospital. The fire was put out before the firefighters arrived.