Fire official: 8 killed in predawn Cagayan de Oro fire

At least eight people were killed in a predawn fire that hit a commercial building in Cagayan de Oro City Saturday, a fire official said. Cagayan de Oro City fire marshal Chief Inspector Benigno Amomonpon in a text message said fire started at 2:25 a.m., killing eight stay-in workers. He said 13 were staying in the building during the fire. Twelve were stay-in workers while the 13th was the owner of the SP Foods Trading, a wholesale-retailer firm. Eight were killed, and five were able to escape, including Elsa Pana, the store owner who is renting some parts of the building owned by the Soriano family in the city. Killed were Luz Pana Zulieta, Emilyn Chung, Chembelyn Macusi, Jackilyn Resureccion, Cheryl Tortugo, Russel Padero, Lorena Pahunang, and Benjie Taneo. Luz Pana was a relative of Elsa. The fire was controlled around 4:15 a.m., one hour after it stated. Meanwhile, a dzXL radio report cited an initial investigation saying firefighters were having a hard time getting to the building because of a steel gate. Arson investigators estimated the damage at P1 million, the report said. — LBG, GMANews.TV