Man sets Cebu neighborhood on fire

CEBU CITY, Philippines—At least 100 families were displaced by fire allegedly set deliberately before dawn Wednesday by a man left by his family due to a drug problem, officials said.

The fire which started before 5 a.m. destroyed at least 50 houses made of light materials in Purok 8, Sitio Little Pasil in Barangay Camputhaw, Cebu City.

The narrow roads leading to the fire scene made it difficult for the firetrucks to get near the area.

Barangay Councilor Lorenzo Basamot said the fire started in the house of Orland Mendoza, whose family had left him after he got hooked on illegal drugs.

“He (Mendoza) has problems with his family and has long warned that he would burn their house,” said Basamot, who lives close to the fire site.

Mendoza was detained at the Fuente Osmeña police station pending the filing of an arson complaint against him for allegedly starting the fire that displaced many of his neighbors.

The fire victims are now housed at the gymnasium of Barangay Camputhaw.