A man is in critical condition after he was doused with gasoline and set on fire by another man in Taguig City, authorities reported.
According to a report by Bea Pinlac on Unang Balita on Monday, investigators are looking into jealousy as the possible motive behind the attack.
CCTV footage captured the moment the suspect arrived at an alleyway in Barangay Pitogo, where he approached the victim, who was sitting and using his cellphone.
Moments later, flames suddenly erupted, prompting nearby residents to flee the scene in panic.
The suspect was also seen in the video briefly catching fire before fleeing the scene.
A witness said it was actually the second time the suspect had come to the area.
During the incident, the suspect arrived carrying a plastic bag that was later revealed to contain gasoline. According to the witness, he poured the gasoline on the victim, lit him on fire using a lighter, and said, “ito, regalo ko sayo.”
The 28-year-old victim sustained third-degree burns on various parts of his body.
“Hindi ko nga makilala ang anak ko kung ano ang itsura niya. Ang layo. Hindi okay ang anak ko,” the mother of the victim said.
“Hindi makatao ang ginawa niya. Grabe talaga ‘yung ginawa niya,” she added.
A woman doing laundry near the scene of the attack was also injured during the incident. She recalled that her children saw her engulfed in flames, and she used the clothes she had been washing to try to put out the fire.
According to the victim’s mother, jealousy was the motive behind the attack. She said the suspect had previously threatened her son and even waited for him at his workplace. The two had already been called to the barangay before, where the suspect apologized.
Barangay Chairman Ives Ebrada confirmed that a barangay protection order had been issued against the suspect for allegedly committing physical, verbal, and psychological abuse against his wife.
Following the incident, the barangay has increased security in the area, while authorities continue to search for the suspect. Ebrada also noted that the incident left many residents traumatized.
