Drunk man set himself on fire, 19 houses razed

A fire believed to have been caused by a drunk 54-year-old man after pouring himself a bottle of kerosene razed 19 houses in Barangay Cubacub, Mandaue City yesterday dawn, December 28 and is now being investigated as arson.

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According to the Mandaue City Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), a 54-year-old man identified as Alex Tolentino, a resident of the area, is being suspected behind the blaze that displaced 23 families and 80 individuals Fire Officer 2 Mark Anthony Yagonia, fire investigator of the Mandaue BFP, revealed that based on the sworn statement made and signed by the suspect himself, Tolentino was allegedly intoxicated with alcohol after being rejected by the woman he was courting.

Fueled by his emotions, the drunk Tolentino attempted to commit suicide by buying a bottle of kerosene gas which he poured over his whole body and then set himself on fire, that later spread throughout his house at around 1:31 a.m.