Relatives urge deeper probe on `deadly' Maguindanao fire

MAGUINDANAO --- Relatives of three villagers killed in a mysterious conflagration that razed their house in S.K. Pendatun town are certain there was foul play in the incident.Elders of Mianong Pagalad, Rahim Pagalad and Bai Rajima Pagalad, are certain they were killed before their house in Barangay Bagundang in S.K. Pendatun, Maguindanao was set on fire before dawn Sunday.Senior Superintendent Agustin Tello, director of the Maguindanao provincial police, said Wednesday he has directed the S.K. Pendatun municipal police to investigate on the incident extensively.Neighbors had earlier said there was heavy stench of gasoline in the surroundings of the victims’ house before they noticed a huge fire that razed it down.Responding neighbors also confirmed that the charred cadavers of the victims were found in their rooms, a possible indication that they were all unconscious when the fire broke out.Tello said they have requested the personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection in S.K. Pendatun to help in the investigation.Tello said no autopsy was done on the cadavers of the victims, immediately buried by relatives in keeping with an Islamic tradition of burying the dead within 24 hours from the time of death.