6 dead in Bacolod pension house fire

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Six people died when a fire hit the Java Pension House along Gonzaga-Locsin street in this city yesterday.

Four of the fatalities were identified as Christopher Java, the owner of the pension house; his mother Magdalena, his 12-year-old son Miguel and Annalyn Davallo. Their bodies were found on the second and fourth floors of the pension house.

Five other occupants of the pension house, including an Australian man, were injured and taken to a hospital for treatment. Ten other people were rescued.

City fire marshal Publio Ploteña said the victims could have died of suffocation.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia ordered the creation of a panel to investigate the fire and determine if the pension house complied with the requirements under the  Building Code.

Initial investigation showed the fire started from the ground floor.

Damage to property was initially placed at P8 million.

The Bureau of Fire Protection said it received a call at about 4:37 a.m.  The fire was declared out after almost five hours.

The pension house, formerly known as Bascon Hotel, was built in 1965.