By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga 

A resident got threats after being blamed following the huge fire at Purok Magnolia in Bacolod City’s Barangay 7 on Thursday night, July 6.

In a radio interview yesterday, Barangay 7 chief Hercy Sibug said the family of Richard Benjamin told them that some village residents had threatened to harm him if he returned.

Sibug said they had told Benjamin not to return to his home to avoid any violent confrontation and for his own safety.

Some fire-affected residents have also forwarded petitions to barangay officials not to allow Benjamin from returning to the residence again.

No criminal charges have yet been filed against Benjamin in relation to the blaze, which gutted 30 homes, of which, 11 were shared houses and 28 were for rent.

The fire also displaced 67 families, composed of 180 individuals, and caused damage and losses worth P350,000.

Sibug said they are doing what they can to help the affected residents.

Meanwhile, Fire Marshall Chief Inspector Stephen Jardeleza of the Bureau of Fire Protection in Bacolod revealed that the fire originated from Benjamin’s house.

Several affected residents have claimed that an individual allegedly tried to either “invent or experiment” using car batteries prior to the blaze.

Reports also said a person inadvertently left the soldering gun plugged in, which was used for repair of recovered scrap materials, might have caused the fire. 

Jardeleza said Benjamin’s house had no electricity, and he had to improvise charging devices.

Authorities discovered a huge vehicle battery melted during the blaze.

Benjamin denied the allegations thrown against him./DGB, WDJ