Contributed photo

More help are pouring into the folds of the fire victims of Tagbilaran. This time, the help comes from the private sector, specifically from the Meralco Foundation.

In a report, Cong. Edgar Chatto confirmed that he received some help from the Meralco Foundation facilitated by Mike Toledo.

The Meralco Foundation is no stranger in helping Boholanos in distress as it also helped the province during the aftermath of typhoon Odette.

It can be remembered that Meralco sent linemen to help fix the power lines here mostly in Tagbilaran City and some towns in Bohol back in early 2022.

A sister foundation, the Alagang Kapatid also helped Tagbilaranons by donating bicycles to the less fortunate among our residents.

The help coming from Meralco Foundation is one among the many aids received by the office of Cong. Chatto to help the fire victims.

To recall, just 2 days before Christmas, a fire erupted at Gallares street in Poblacion 2 in Tagbilaran City that gutted down houses affecting 300 people and killing 3 residents of the area.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the authorities.

However, there are rumors circulating, yet unconfirmed, that arson caused the conflagration.

Meanwhile, an officer of the Tagbilaran Fire Department said probers are still gathering evidence regarding the fire.

Senior Fire Officer 4 Oscar Bual in a radio interview on Dec. 27, 2022 over Open Forum said all angles are being looked into including the possibiliity of arson behind the fire that happened on Dec.  23, 2022 at Gallares street, barangay Poblacion 2.

When asked if he heard about the rumor regarding the fire being an arson case, he declined to provide any information and replied repeatedly that the investigators are on the scene gathering evidence.

On the other hand, Ken Requeron, a staffer of Cong. Chatto, recounted how he and the rest of his family escaped the fire. His report was done during a radio interview on Dec. 27, 2022.

In order to escape from the fire that engulfed his home, he and his wife together with his 3 children had to jump off into the sea towards safety.

Requeron said his house was the 2nd one that was razed to the ground due to the conflagration that started at a neighbor’s house. He even heard the sound of the explosion of some of his appliances due to the fire that lasted at least 3 hours.