MAPANDAN, Pangasinan – An 88-year-old grandmother was killed in a fire believed to be caused by a cigarette butt in Barangay Baloling here Wednesday.
Case investigator Police Master Sgt. Adrian Espino of the Mapandan police identified the victim as Rosita Perez, a widow.
Reports said that the victim’s granddaughter Jenna May Suratos saw the victim’s house on fire at around 5 p.m. and asked their relatives for help.
Perez’s relatives rushed to help and discovered the burnt body of the victim in her room which was made of light materials and totally destroyed by the fire.
She was taken to the Mapandan Community Hospital where she was declared dead.
“Sunog na sunog na rin ang matanda at nangitim na ang buo niya katawan (Her body was totally burnt),” police said.
Police said the fire was possibly caused by a cigarette butt.
“Madalas na manigarilyo ang matanda at doon na rin nya pinapatay sa kama niya ang upos ng kaniyang sigarilyo at maaaring hindi pa niya ito totally napatay kaya lumaki ang sunog at natupok sa kuwarto nito (She smokes and might have failed to put out her cigarette while lying in bed, causing the fire that killed),” a relative told the police.