A man believed to be addicted to illegal drugs allegedly attempted to set fire to a house in Sitio Cabantan, Barangay Luz, Cebu City, at around 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2026. The suspect, identified only as Benjamin, 46, who lives with a partner in the area, reportedly burned rags and piles of garbage outside the house, with flames nearly reaching the structure.
Incident Details and Response
A delivery rider witnessed the incident and immediately called the Cebu City Fire Station, fearing the fire would spread to nearby homes. Fire volunteers from Barangay Luz quickly responded and extinguished the burning rags and garbage.
According to the Mabolo Police Station investigation, Benjamin said he intentionally set the rags and garbage on fire so that police officers would arrive and prevent him from getting killed. In an interview with dyHP-RMN Cebu, he claimed that his live-in partner had been kidnapped by a group of men who were also his friends and that they were planning to kill him.
Homeowner's Reaction
However, the homeowner, Annie Repollo, said that after she bought the house, the suspect had already been ordered to leave. She was surprised when he returned and started the fire. Following the incident, Repollo decided to secure the house but said she would not file charges against the suspect. However, her neighbors hoped that Benjamin would still be jailed, fearing he might set another house on fire and put more people at risk.
