3 dead in Laguna town fire

CAMP PACIANO RIZAL—A retired policeman and his two children died in a two-hour fire that razed 30 houses in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, Thursday.

Carlito Maglipon, 62, and his children Mara, 20, and Francisco, 28, also a policeman, died as they tried to escape from their burning home in Barangay Santisima.

Town police chief Supt. Chito Bersaluna, in a phone interview, said the fire started in the house of Joey Landrito past 7 a.m. and spread to at least 30 other houses.

The house of the Maglipons was two to three houses away from Landrito’s, Bersaluna said.

Bersaluna said Mara tried to lead his sickly father out of the house when they were trapped by debris.

Witnesses said Francisco, who has a rank of police officer 1, was first to get out but returned for his father and sister. Carlito and Mara died instantly, while Francisco was rushed to the hospital but died of severe burns an hour later.

The fire was put out around 10 a.m. Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon