By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

At least seven homes were destroyed yesterday following an early morning fire at Purok Sampaguita Tres in Bacolod City’s Barangay Singcang-Airport.
Bacolod City Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) arson investigator, Fire Officer 1 Ronel Ivan Labansauan, said the fire began around 2:00 a.m. at a home owned by a certain Belenda Genaboga.
The blaze eventually spread to nearby residences.
However, in an interview with Romeo Sta. Ana, a homeowner affected by the fire, he claimed, prior to the start of the blaze, he heard a commotion outside Genaboga’s home between the homeowner and her live-in partner, identified as Jun Nobleza. He then claimed Nobleza threw gasoline at their home and started the blaze.
When asked if suspected perpetrator was inebriated at the time of the argument, Sta. Ana said he did not know as he was asleep and had been woken up by the loud noises created by the couple.
The fire quickly spread due to homes in the area being made of light materials.
Fire damage was estimated at P60,000.
Despite an ongoing investigation, Sta. Ana his neighbors are demanding Genaboga and Nobleza to surface, adding, they plan to file criminal charges against the couple should they fail to agree to their demands./DGB, WDJ