Village chief's vehicle burned in front of house

MANILA, Philippines - A pick-up truck of a Caloocan City barangay chairman was reportedly set on fire by unidentified men while parked in front of his house before dawn yesterday.

Chairman Emmanuel Cruz, 42, of Barangay 79, Zone 1, District 1, Caloocan City, told the police that his green 2002 Toyota Hilux (XBH-971) car was badly damaged including his engine. According to Cruz, he woke up at around 3 a.m. and saw his vehicle’s front exterior already ablaze. The fire quickly spread and burned the engine before it was put off.

Cruz immediately reported the incident to the local police station.

Superintendent Florendo Quibuyen, Caloocan City police acting chief, dispatched his men from the Station Investigation Branch to conduct their initial investigation. “The complainant sought our help so I sent my men from the SIB to conduct initial investigation. We turned over the case to the fire bureau because it’s not under our jurisdiction,” Quibuyen told The STAR.

SFO1 Edwin Buenaventura, Caloocan City Bureau of Fire Protection arson investigator, said they are investigating the case. “We have sent men to the area to investigate,” Buenaventura said.

The police said that it would be the task of the BFP to determine the motive behind the alleged arson on Cruz’s pick-up truck.