Cagayan de Oro fire that killed 2 may be related to land dispute

A fire that killed two people and rendered 142 families homeless in Cagayan de Oro City on Thursday may be rooted in a land dispute.

Barangay 35 captain Modesto Ligtas, whose house was damaged in the fire, said he believes the fire was no accident, GMA Northern Mindanao's Joe Legaspina reported Friday on GMA News TV's "Balita Pilipinas Ngayon."

"Hindi ko masasabi na sinunog ng may-ari ng lupa. Babayaran nga nila ng P5,000 kada bahay dito sa Barangay 35," he said.

District fire marshal Superintendent Shirley Teleron said they are not discounting this possibility for now, even as the property owner has not commented on Ligtas' claim.

"Under investigation pa ito pero kinokonsidera namin ang lahat ng angle na pwdeng dahilan ng sunog," Teleron said.

Several residents affected by the fire have set up temporary shelters at a nearby parking lot.

brgy 35,cdeo: temporaryo usa nga nagtolda dinhe sa parking lot ang mga biktima sa sunog kagahapon @24Oras_NM pic.twitter.com/902mezChoz

— jeik compo (@jeikcompo) March 20, 2015

The Bureau of Fire Protection said as many as 142 families were affected by the fire, which killed a man and his stepson and caused P10 million in damage.

BFP figures also showed the fire at Barangay 35 destroyed 51 houses.

Several of the victims asked for help in getting tents, even as they have received aid such as food, blankets, mats, clothes and cookware. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News