CEBU CITY – Stoked by the news surrounding the arrest of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy on Sunday, September 8, a man in Consolacion town, Cebu hastily disposed of a lighted egg tray on Monday night, September 9.
RESIDENTS pass by the area in Sitio Bangkerohan, Barangay Tayud, Consolacion, Cebu where 13 houses were razed by fire on Monday night, September 9. (Photo via Calvin Cordova)
Dondon Furog didn’t expect that his eagerness to catch Quiboloy on television would lead to a disaster as the lighted egg tray resulted in a huge fire in Sitio Bangkerohan, Barangay Tayud.
Interviewed by reporters on Tuesday morning, September 10, Furog said he lighted an egg tray as an alternative for mosquito coil.
Egg trays are widely used to ward off mosquitoes as the burning smell they produce supposedly keeps the insects away.
Furog said he placed the lighted egg tray in their comfort room.
“I took the egg tray then I threw it under our house before I rushed to a neighbor’s house to watch the news about Quiboloy,” Furog said in Cebuano.
A few moments later, commotion broke out in the neighborhood when Furog’s house was seen on fire.
The fire started at 8:11 p.m. and was put out at 8:27 p.m.
Investigators said 13 houses were razed by the fire. Damage to property was pegged at P250,000.
Furog said they were not able to save any belongings as the fire spread quickly.
No one was hurt in the incident.
Barangay Tayud Captain Fe Cuyos appealed for assistance for the fire victims.
“We appeal for donations such as mats, blankets, and clothings for the victims. They were not able to salvage anything because the fire grew rapidly,” Cuyos said.