PANGASINAN – After escaping from a hospital where he was confined as a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient, a man set on fire a social hall where he was transferred for quarantine in Barangay Guiset Sur in San Manuel, Pangasinan last Sunday, September 6.
Jacinto Delos Santos, 85, reportedly set ablaze the social hall of the barangay quarantine facility after the duty nurse refused to let him leave the facility. The patient was a resident of Barangay Guiset Norte.
The fire started at 2 p.m. before responding Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) personnel were able to put it out 20 minutes later.
It was earlier reported that Delos Santos was first taken to the Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) in Dagupan City after he tested positive for COVID-19.
But Delos Santos bolted from R1MC, and, for still unknown resons, showed up at the San Manuel municipal hall.
Mayor Kenneth Perez immediately ordered the San Manuel Rural Health Unit to place Delos Santos at a local quarantine facility because he has not yet recovered from the disease.
But apparently, Delos Santos could not stand confinement, and demanded that he be released from the barangay quarantine facility.
The amount of damage to the quarantine facility is still being determined. No one was injured during the fire.