A bus passenger set a conductor on fire using gasoline in Quezon City on Sunday afternoon, January 3, 2021.
The incident which killed the two took place around the area of Pearl Drive in Commonwealth Avenue.
The bus conductor was identified as Amelene Sembana while the identity of the passenger remains unknown as of press time.
According to the witness’ testimonies via Inquirer.net, the two were seen hitting each other in what seemed to be a commotion.
The passenger suddenly took out a bottle containing gasoline and splashed it to the bus conductor.
Senior Fire Officer I Robin Topacio cited that “personal matter” must be the reason behind the incident.
“They really hit each other. The guy was seated in front. They were daring each other and suddenly he put her on fire,” he said.
He added that the plastic barriers inside the vehicle may have also helped the fire to spread rapidly.
Sembana ran towards the door of the bus but the other 20 passengers who were scrambling to leave overtaken it.
Other passengers were able to escape the tragic incident using the back window of the bus as the victim’s burning body block the main exit.
A video of the incident was caught on camera showing passersby and bystanders throwing rocks at the windows as the passengers cry for help.
It is estimated that the fire incident cost P50,000 damage.
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