ITOGN, Benguet – More than P40 million worth of property was torched into ashes when a 5-hour fire razed several structures of the Behtesa Ministries International located at Sibal, Tuding here Tuesday morning.
Senior Superintendent Florante Camuyot, officer-i-charge of the Benguet Provincial Police Office, reported that the whole church, staff quarters, clinic and library of the religious group were totally burned during the fire incident which originated from an alleged short circuit at the left side of the building before immediately spreading into the different structures of the compound.
Some 160 children who are being taken cared by the religious group were displaced from the orphanage being used by the group to cater to children who are in need of help to pursue their education.
Fire-fighters from the municipality and nearby Baguio City had a difficult time putting out the fire because the structures were made up of materials that were described to be combustible.
However, no casualty was reported during the 5-hour fire incident that gutted all the structures within the compound.
By Dexter A. See