ILOILO – Four heavy equipment were set on fire by unidentified armed men in Barangay Cabunga-an, Leon, Iloilo around 6 p.m. on Friday, May 5.
An elf truck was totally damaged while the mixer truck, grader and backhoe were partially damaged, according to Police Captain Rodel Pasion, chief of the Leon Municipal Police Station (MPS).
“According to the safety officer, may armado nga nagpakilala kag nagkadto sa bunkhouse kag ang in-charge didto or bodegero amo ang naka-istorya sa ila…mga four to five nga armado,” said Pasion.
Together with the Leon MPS, the Leon Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director, Police Colonel Ronaldo Palomo, checked the crime scene.
The armed men burned the heavy equipment for 30 minutes before leaving the area on foot.
“Ang ginhambal man lang nila nga ‘indi lang kamo magpakulba kay ti may tawo lang nga nagreklamo sa inyo,” added Piason.
Pasion said the contractor may have not paid its workers.
Investigations by the local police, fire bureau and Philippine Army are ongoing.
Damages were pegged at more or less P900,000.
IPPO condemns arson
IPPO spokesperson Police Major Rolando Araño said the armed men caused trouble and delayed the completion of the access road from Leon to Alimodian.
Once completed, the road will make it easier for residents to transport their products to Leon from Alimodian, particularly from the so-called “Seven Cities” composed of the barangays of Cabacanan, Dao, Lico, Manasa, Tabug, Tarug and Umingan.
The IPPO also urged residents to be vigilant and immediately report similar incidents to the authorities./PN
