A 46-year-old man, identified as alias Benji, was arrested after setting fire to his former residence in Barangay Luz, Cebu City, on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at around 9:00 a.m. The suspect, who is allegedly involved in illegal drugs, admitted to starting the blaze intentionally to draw police attention.
Incident Details
According to the Mabolo Police Station, Benji ignited piles of garbage and debris outside the house in Sityo Cabantan, Barangay Luz. The fire nearly reached the walls of the structure. A delivery rider witnessed the incident and immediately alerted the Cebu City Fire Station. Fire volunteers from Barangay Luz quickly responded to the scene.
Suspect's Motive
During an interview with DyHP-RMN Cebu, Benji claimed that he set the fire because he feared for his life. He alleged that his live-in partner had been kidnapped by a group of men, whom he identified as former friends who were now trying to kill him. “There are people trying to kill me. I don’t know what group this is, so I set the fire so that the police would come here and I wouldn’t be killed,” Benji said.
Arrest and Investigation
Police arrested Benji at the scene. He is currently in custody at the Mabolo Police Station, facing charges for arson. Authorities are investigating the kidnapping claim and the suspect's alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
