Authorities here theorized armed men believed to be a rift among dismissed transport workers or disgruntled bus workers who are also members of the transport labor union were responsible for the torching of 11 buses of the HM Transport Company early dawn Monday in the bus compound in Pagsanjan.
In an interview with the PNA here, Pagsanjan chief of police Senior Insp. Henry Villagonzalo said some 15 unidentified armed men barged into the bus garage and motorpool around past midnight or early dawn on Monday.
Villagonzalo disclosed that Laguna and local police and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel rushed to the HM Transport bus compound where around 100 buses were parked at that time and 11 of these were totally damaged by suspected arsonists.
Police are tracking down the arsonists who fled aboard the van and another "escape" vehicle.
BFP Pagsanjan Fire Marshall Senior Insp. Bernardo Teczon led fire personnel in responding to put out the blaze starting 1:20 a.m.
Fire investigators also discounted any explosion occurred that may have caused the fire to spread and damaged the closely parked buses.
According to Fire Officer 2 Larry Calingasan, firemen declared the fire out by 3 a.m. on Monday.
The BFP initial investigations by fire fighters and volunteers placed the property damage at P55 million as each bus costs P5 million.
No injuries or casualties were reported.
Villagonzalo said that the cops, police scene of the crime (SOCO) operatives, explosives and ordnance (EOD) division and BFP arson investigators continue their probe into the incident as of press time.
Investigators discarded terroristic acts by dissident or insurgent group as behind the crime.
Engr. Homer Mercado, president of the HM and Greenstar Transport disclosed possibility of an internal wrangling within the transport workers' union leadership which exacted a collateral damage to the bus burning.
Sources said the bus company is putting up a reward money of some P300,000 to any informant or witness who could unmask the suspects.
Laguna provincial disaster risk reduction and management council (PDRRMC) head Valentin Guidote told PNA that the provincial DRRMC and some emergency responders from
Valentin said there was no casualty or eminent disaster arising out of the burning incident as the bus transport company assured them the incident was already under control, contained and is within bus firm's purview as the incident occurred in the private property.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=553916
Other reports suggest that the perpetrators may have been members of the Maoist New People's Army.
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