It could be a case of karma but heads will surely roll when Chief Supt. Ruben Bearis Jr. officer-in-charge of the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP), learned that an arsonist turned over by the Quezon City (QC) Police District operatives to the Fire Department headed by Senior Supt. Robert “Bobby” Baruello was himself burned, as his mattress caught fire, after falling asleep while smoking inside his detention cell at a fire station in Agham Road over the weekend.

Now being treated at the East Avenue Medical Center for third degree burns, Rogelio Cortez, 37, jobless, of Cotabato St., Pael Cmpd. in Brgy. Culiat who was collared by the police on November 6, tried to burn their house after a heated argument with his wife, Nora Galler.

Police turned him over to the QC BFP and was detained at the Agham Road Fire Station.

Chief Insp. Alma Abacahin, investigation officer of QC BFP Intelligence Section said that he heard the burn victim moaning and when he checked he saw Cortez already burning on his mattress.

Several cigarette butts were also seen inside the detention cell prompting arson investigators to theorize that Cortez slept with a lit cigarette.