‘Cigarette Butt Might Have Caused the Fire’

Despite of her smoking habit, Juanita C. Arcaya still reached the age of 101. This age may qualify her to receive a centenary award of P100,000 if she is a resident and registered voter in Cebu City. But she died in a fire that reportedly came from her cigarette butt last Thursday.

Witnesses said that the fire that engulfed Arcaya’s house at Saint Michael Village in Barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City reportedly came from the place where the centenarian was sleeping.

Cebu City fire marshall Rogelio Bongabong Jr. said it is likely that the cigarette that Arcaya had smoked might have caused the fire, although the fire probers are still conducting further investigation into the incident.

The Cebu City government has a project giving P100,000 to a City resident and registered voter if they would reach the age of 100. There was even a suggestion to raise the amount to P1 million, although it was not approve yet.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said he will look into why Arcaya had not received the centenary award from the city government.