ROXAS City – The owner of the road grader torched by still unidentified culprits in Sigma, Capiz offered a P200,000 cash reward for witnesses who could aid arson investigators at the Bureau of Fire Protection.
Probers were still trying to identify who was behind the burning of the equipment owned by Ceresa L. Yap of CLY-ABC Builders in Barangay Amaga, Sigma at around 11 p.m. on Oct. 31.
On Nov. 9 a dump truck and a stake truck owned by MBM Construction of Myla Muyco were also burned down simultaneously in Barangay Agkilo, Panitan and Barangay Bolo, Roxas City past 1 a.m.
At the time the dump truck was parked at the residence of the driver in Barangay Agkilo while the stake truck was on a private lot a few meters away from Muyco’s house.
Yap told Panay News that she and Muyco were longtime business partners and have been living together.
“Posible nga may mga tawo nga nahisa kag gusto i-paralyze ang amon operation,” said Yap. “Ang makahimo sini amo ang grupo nga may kapasidad kag resources.”
In light of these incidents, a task force comprising the Bureau of Fire Protection units in Sigma, Panitan and Roxas City was created to investigate.
Roxas City Fire Marshal Stephen Jardeleza, head of the task force, said the reward money will encourage witnesses “to come out and provide information vital to the ongoing investigation.”
“Dako ang mabulig sang reward money,” Jardeleza told Panay News.
The New People’s Army had denied having a hand in any of the equipment torching.
“Wala kami kahilabtanan sa natabo nga pagpanunog sang amo nga mga equipment kag willing kami nga magbulig sa investigation,” part of its statement read.
The equipment were intentionally burned based on the presence of flammable materials on them, investigators have said, citing laboratory test results./PN
