A 43-year-old construction helper, identified only by the alias "Dukot," spent Father's Day behind bars after allegedly attempting to burn down his home in Barangay Cogon, Cebu City, at around 5:00 PM on Sunday, June 21, 2026.
Drunken Dispute Leads to Attempted Arson
According to police reports, Dukot had been drinking with friends and became angry after losing money in a game of scatter. When his wife told him to stop drinking and refused to buy him another bottle of Red Horse beer, he became enraged. In a fit of anger, Dukot allegedly set his shirt on fire and threw it at the front of their house, causing his wife to scream for help.
Neighbors, fearing that the fire might spread to their own homes, quickly called the police, who arrived and arrested Dukot. He now faces charges of Attempted Arson and is detained at the Inayawan Police Station.
Suspect Denies Intent to Burn House
In an interview with SunStar Superbalita Cebu, Dukot denied that he intended to burn down the house. “That’s not true. I asked my wife to buy me one bottle of Red Horse. She didn’t agree because she said I was already drunk, and I got very angry,” Dukot said.
He claimed that during their argument, he took off his shirt and lit it with a lighter. When it caught fire, he threw it in front of their house, which caused his wife to scream in fear and call for help. “I just picked up my burning shirt and put it out myself,” he argued.
Alcohol Blamed for the Incident
Dukot admitted that he was "very drunk" at the time and was craving more alcohol. He insisted that if his wife had bought him another bottle, the incident would not have happened. He now apologizes to his wife and neighbors for his actions.
Police continue to investigate the incident, and Dukot remains in custody pending his court appearance.
