Retired soldier dies in Cavite fire

A retired soldier died in a fire in Cavite province Friday night, allegedly after running amuck and terrorizing residents of a neighborhood in Dasmariñas City.

Police said the retired soldier, identified as Rafael Policarpio, 59, ran inside a building while being chased, radio dzBB reported Saturday.

His remains were found inside the three-story building at San Marino Subdivision in Barangay Salawag, radio dzBB's Rodil Vega reported earlier.

An initial investigation showed Policarpio caused tension in the area by indiscriminately firing a handgun and trying to take a resident hostage.

When authorities chased him, he ran inside the building before the fire there started.

The dzBB report said investigators are verifying information that Policarpio was trapped in the burning building and suffocated. — LBG, GMA News