A dawn fire razed a house in the town of Minglanilla in Cebu, killing an 83-year-old woman sleeping inside.

The woman, Lita Abella, was already bedridden and could not have escape by herself.

Her son, Ulysis, 62, could not help but feel remorse for not being able to rescue his mother.

When the fire struck their home at past 4 a.m. on May 31, 2026, Ulysis was at a dance in another barangay.

“Nagbasol ko kay nilakaw man ko. Di unta to mahitabo kung wala pa’ko nilakaw,” he said.

Ulysis said he actually went home that night but decided to leave again when he saw his mother already sleeping.

The next time he went home at around 6 a.m., the fire has consumed his house and killed his mother.

Ulysis said they did not have electricity and used only a gas lamp. He believes it was ‘katol,’ the traditional coil used to repel or kill mosquitoes, that may have caused the fire.

FSO1 Oliver Rey Samaco, Chief of Operations, Minglanilla Fire Station, said it was difficult for firefighters to reach the area where the victim’s house was located due to the narrow road.

No one also reported the incident immediately to the fire station.

“Basically, walay nakatawag sa amo diri during the incident kay na-happen to mga kadlawon,” Samaco said.