The daughter of Jose de Venecia died in a fire that razed their Makati City residence late on Thursday, authorities said yesterday.
Kristina Casimira 'KC' Perez de Venecia, 16, was trapped on the second level when the fire gutted the mansion of the Speaker of the House of Representatives in Dasmarinas district around 11.29 pm, Superintendent Ruben Morales, Makati Fire Marshal, said.
Her body was found inside the bath adjacent to her room, Morales said.
Kristina had sustained some minor burns but the main cause of death was suffocation, the marshal said.
Television reports said the security bars and bullet-proof glass in the windows had hampered rescuers' efforts to reach the girl on time and save her.
The de Venecia family spokesman, Noel Albano, said nobody thought KC was still in the house until her sister received a call from her frantically saying she was trapped in her room.
Albano said KC then wrapped herself in wet blankets and lay down in the bathtub.
"She tried her very best to save herself," Albano said.
Morales said arson investigators are conducting a probe into the cause of the fire. However, he said they were looking into the possibility the fire was caused by a string of Christmas lights tied around the main staircase in the mansion.
"The lights were turned on almost the whole time," he said pointing out that this could have caused it to overheat.
Albano said KC was to have graduated from high school this March and was a diligent student.
President Gloria Arroyo, a long-time political ally of de Venecia, conveyed her condolences to the Speaker's family.
"My whole family extends its profound condolences to the family of House Speaker Joe de Venecia. We are shocked and upset by this tragedy that has befallen a staunch ally and friend," the president said in a statement.
Arroyo said she considered the death of KC a "personal loss". The teenager had a vibrant life ahead of her, she said.
"KC lived a zestful life. She was so passionate about her beliefs and loved sports," her elder sister, Carissa Cruz, recalled of the student at the International School.
"KC was really an avid reader and very sweet teenager," Carissa said in a statement released by the Office of the House Speaker.