A mother and her son died in a fire in their home in Caloocan City in the Philippines on Monday in a blaze police believe was started by the mentally disturbed son.
The fire started in the basement of the home of Banjo Carbonell, 50, and his mother Linda, 74, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported. According to Banjo’s brother Pepito, his sibling had mental problems and was prone to throwing tantrums after he was forced to return home from his job in Kuwait a few years ago.
A few hours before the fire started, Pepito told police, Banjo had a breakdown, which prompted him and his mother to lock him in their basement. Pepito then left their house.
Banjo and his mother died in the fire, which was put out at 11:27pm.
Fire Officer Jason Sarao, the investigator of the case, said the fire was believed to have been started by Banjo. Authorities are still trying to determine the cause of the fire, which caused about PHP500,000 (US$9,609) worth of damage to the property.