TV personality Ethel Booba probed for arson attempt in QC

Television personality Ethel Booba faces arson charges after being suspected of trying to set on fire a condominium unit in Quezon City early on Friday. Police and firefighters secured the eighth floor of the Prince Jun Condominium in Quezon City after the alleged arson attempt by Booba, Ethyl Gabison in real life. Authorities went to the condominium unit where Gabison was staying after the security guard reported that the sprinklers in the unit were activated, indicating that there had been fire in the room. Village watchman Serafin Andres, who rushed to the scene, said a lampshade had burned inside the unit where Gabison was staying. Andres also said Gabison was alone in the condominium unit when they arrived. "Nakita namin sunog na, at wala na kaming nakitang usok. Siya lang doon mag-isa. Sabi ng guwardiya buti nag-automatic sprinkler," Andres said. (We saw the lampshade was already burned. She was alone in the room. The security guard on duty told us the sprinklers inside the unit automatically activated.) "Baka arson ang kaso. Iimbestigahan namin tapos itu-turn over namin sa arson division," a police Senior Inspector at the scene said in an interview on dzBB radio. (The case could be arson. We will investigate and turn over the case to the arson division.) Ethel Booba's account In an interview on dzBB, Gabison at first said she tried to set the room on fire but later claimed a janitor was responsible for it. "Sana di naagapan para madamay dito sa kabila ... Sinadya ko talaga ito para mamatay (I wish the fire was not put out so the nearby unit will be burned... I did this on purpose so I will die)," she said. When asked if she was the one who actually set fire to the unit, she said it was a janitor. "May janitor dito eh, tapos may crush sa akin. Hindi ko siya bet (There was a janitor here who had a crush on me. But he was not my type)," she said. When asked if she was drunk, she answered, "kaunti lang (just a little)." She said she has been staying in the condo unit for a month now. Arson attempt A separate report by dzBB's Allan Gatus said the investigators suspect the supposed arson attempt took place at about 5:15 a.m. on Friday. The report said Gabison was wearing a black shirt and denim pants and was sitting in a corner of the room when the authorities arrived. The report added security personnel noted Gabison appeared drunk and depressed when she entered the building. — LBG/VVP, GMA News