Three children were confirmed dead after a fire broke out inside their home at Bangga Totong, Barangay Felisa, Bacolod City, yesterday afternoon.

Rescuers identified the fatalities as four-year-old Arthur Diloy, three-year-old Agerico Diloy, Jr., and two-year-old Mary Auxencia Diloy.

Based on an initial probe performed by arson investigators from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the children’s father, Agerico, a barangay tanod, left home around 5:00 p.m. to report for duty and buy food for his family.

However, Agerico admitted to investigators he locked the children inside their home and, upon his return, found the blaze had already gutted the house, which was constructed of light materials.

Firefighters rushed to the scene to quell the blaze, however, they were unable to save the children trapped inside.

Arson investigators have yet to determine the cause of the blaze, while the father has yet to inform his wife, who is currently working in the United Arab Emirates./DGB, WDJ