POLICE said the fire in Minglanilla, Cebu on December 12 was intentional, according to Police Captain Kalvin Golitod, Minglanilla Police chief.
Golitod said that the fire was not an accident based on witnesses’ accounts on an employee who started allegedly the fire.
The suspect was identified as Jose Mesa Agusto, 60, married, a resident of Barangay Panadtaran, San Fernando town, and an employee of the Municipal Trial Court.
The report said that it was Judge Wilson T. Ibones who saw Agusto lit documents under his table using a lighter, as posted on GMA News.
The judge asked one Darwin Rondina to stop Agusto.
However, instead of heeding Rondina, Agusto got a fluorescent tube and attacked Rondina, reportedly.
Agusto hit him in the head, and struck Judge Ibones next.
While Agusto was attacking colleagues, the fire also ignited the combustibles. The commotion sparked panic, as well, among employees.
The employees ran for their life, but when they reached the door they could not open it as it was locked.
A Minglanilla traffic personnel on duty outside of the building, named Jay Arvin Pasadas, heard shouts asking for help.
He ran for the building’s door after he saw smoke billowing from the building and arms flailing out of spaces to catch attention, but he had to kick the main door as hard as he could as it was locked.
When he reached the second floor, he said he kicked the door a couple of times again to open it as it was also locked.
As soon as the door flung open, he saw Ibones collapsing on the floor.
Others who responded to the calls for help assisted the employees out of the building.
Those who sustained burns and injuries were rushed to the Minglanilla District Hospital and South General Hospital in nearby City of Naga.
Agusto was proclaimed dead on arrival at the Minglanilla District Hospital.
The motive for arson is yet to be determined, the police said.
