Pinoys were shaken by the tragic news of a family perishing in a house fire in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, a few days ago. Initial shock over the deaths of a mother and her three young children turned to horror as investigations revealed a more disturbing truth: authorities believe the mother herself intentionally set the blaze.

A tragic fire in Sta. Maria, Bulacan

The incident occurred on May 15, when the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) received reports of smoke coming from a house. Neighbors were the first responders, forcing their way into the house and attempting to rescue the trapped family.

“Ito po ‘yung ginrinder kasi ito po ‘yung naka-padlock… pati ‘yung doorknob sinira na rin kasi naka-lock din ‘yung doorknob, talagang corner na corner,” said one of the rescuers, Winniejeff Inao, during an interview.

Inside the house on fire, rescuers immediately detected a strong odor of chemicals, identifying it as thinner, along with the acrid smell of a burning mattress.

“Amoy thinner ‘tsaka gas… ‘tsaka mabahong kutson. ‘Yung usok ng kutson… sobrang hirap pong huminga dun sa loob kasi sobrang kapal na ng usok,” said Inao.

According to reports, the neighbors were able to put out the fire even before the BFP arrived, but it was already too late for the family inside.

Child reveals their mother’s role in the incident

Authorities said that despite doing their best, the rescue was already too late since the youngest child, a one-year-old boy, had already died on the spot. The 28-year-old mother and two other children, three and six years old, were rushed to East Avenue Medical Center but eventually succumbed to their wounds.

Before his death, one of the children was able to provide a devastating account to rescuers.

“Nakapagsabi po siya doon sa mga naghatid po sa kaniya… ikinuwento, ‘yung mother daw po nila ay binuhusan daw po sila ng thinner tas sinilaban,” said PLTCOL. Voltaire Rivera, Chief of Sta. Maria Police Station.

At the scene of the crime, police did find two bottles of paint thinner and a box of matches. SFO3 Alfredo Hernandez, Chief Fire Investigator of Sta. Maria BFP, said that the father was away during the incident.

Marital issues eyed as reason for tragic fire

So what really happened?

Authorities are now pointing to a marital dispute as the likely motive behind the horrific Bulacan fire. The mother, reportedly experiencing severe emotional distress due to her relationship with her 34-year-old husband, who is a police corporal stationed with the PNP Maritime Group in Batangas. Police believe this dispute is her reason for committing the unthinkable act.

According to Barangay Captain Potenciano Lorenzo, the mother had visited their office earlier that day to report issues with her husband. Barangay officials had planned to mediate the dispute, but tragically, the fire erupted before they could intervene.

The three children have since been laid to rest in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, while their mother’s remains were brought to Batangas.

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