BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Sipalay City police station assured the public that the fire that heavily damaged a backhoe in the city’s Sitio Alao-alao in Barangay Camindangan last Sunday was not done by rebels.
Sipalay City police chief Police Major James Latayon Jr. said the fire was due to a technical problem with the equipment’s electrical wiring, citing the findings of arson investigators.
Latayon said even before the incident, the workers in the area already sensed something was wrong with the backhoe as they were smelling smoke where the fire had originated.
Latayon admitted that at first they did suspect that the backhoe had been set ablaze by the rebels, but their suspicion was quickly lifted after they found out that the Philippine Army is maintaining an outpost in the nearby upper portion of the village./PN
