Jeepney driver loses P300K cash in Taguig fire that left 15 families homeless

A jeepney driver lost P300,000 in cash after the money he borrowed burned inside his house in a fire that left 15 families homeless in Taguig City on Tuesday.

According to a 24 Oras report by Mark Salazar, Joseph Puede was out working while his wife and child were left home when the fire occurred.

His wife was unable to save the money or any of their belongings as she and her small child desperately tried to escape the fire that consumed their home.

“Hindi na po nakuha ng asawa ko kasi mas inuna nya itong bunso ko, kasi po ito tulog tapos ang hinihigaan nyang foam umaapoy na. Hinila lang po yan kasi buntis ang asawa ko, hindi siya kayang buhatin hinila lang siya at hinulog sa hagdan para makaligtas lang siya. Yung asawa ko, hindi na makahakbang nagpadulas na lang sa hagdan,” said Joseph.

(My wife was not able to save anything else since she was looking out for our youngest child. She was pregnant so she had to pull and drop our child on the stairs so they could escape. My wife had to slide down the stairs.)

While he is relieved his family is safe,Joseph said he is concerned over how to pay back the P300,000 that he borrowed from his relatives to buy his own jeepney. The money he hid in his house literally burned to ashes.

The fire allegedly started at around 11 a.m. due to an electric fan.

Residents initially tried to fight the fire before first responders arrived but it quickly spread to adjoining houses.

“Unang-una, ang kalsada papasok is narrow, lalo na nakakasalubong natin ang mga occupant ng mga bahay na may dala-dalang gamit. Pangalawa, yung supply ng tubig alam naman natin na may mga water interruption na sa iba’t-ibang bahagi ng Taguig. Kapos tayo sa supply kaya itinaas agad natin sa ikatlong alarma para makahingi ng tulong sa ibang mga city na magresponde dito sa insidente natin,” said Taguig Fire Department Senior Inspector Demetrio Sablan Jr.

(The road leading to the neighborhood is narrow, and the way was blocked by escaping residents with their belongings. We also had limited water supply due to an interruption in several parts of the city. We immediately raised to the 3rd alarm to ask for assistance from other cities.)

Authorities declared fire out at 12:54 p.m.—Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News