CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro – A prominent Filipino-Chinese businessman known for his philanthropic activities was killed in a fire that razed his house and grocery store in Pinamalayan town, this province, before dawn on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
THE late Arsenio King (right), a prominent businessman in Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro, with Gov. Bonz Dolor. (Gov. Dolor FB)
Police Lt. Col. Joel G. Paningbatan, Pinamalayan Municipal Police Station chief, identified the victim as Arsenio King, owner of Three Kings Grocery and General Merchandise on Juan Luna St., Barangay Zone 4.
Paningbitan said one of the victim’s companions was about to sleep when the electricity went off followed by the ceiling being engulfed by thick black smoke at about 1:30 a.m.
Police received a call from the local municipal risk reduction and management office informing them about the fire.
King was found at 3:20 a.m. and taken to a hospital where he was declared dead.
The victim was a former president of the Pinamalayan Chinese Chamber of Commerce.