CEBU, Philippines - An octogenarian allegedly set herself on fire inside her house in Barangay Malabago, Badian town last Friday night.
Marcela Apostol, 81, single, burned herself to death which the police believed to have been triggered by extreme loneliness.
The charred body of Apostol was discovered by her elder sister Beatriz, whose house was adjacent to hers. Insp. Reyco Romaguera, chief of Badian Police Station, said Apostol used a torch of dried coconut fronds to set herself on fire.
She reportedly poured kerosene gas on the torch and lit it with a matchstick.
Beatriz, 83, noticed the thick smoke emitting from her sister’s house prompting her to check it. Beatriz found her sister already on fire.
Dr. Urdoja Espirito, the town’s municipal health officer, said Apostol sustained third degree burns causing her death.
Romaguera said Apostol had no family of her own and has been living alone in her house for a long time. He believed this may have pushed her to commit suicide. Apostol was described by her neighbors to be energetic and was not known to be suffering from any illness despite her age.
Though it was reported to be a case of suicide, but the police is not discounting the possibility of arson. (FREEMAN)