Region 1, NCR probers join hands to solve arson attack

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The Region 1 (Ilocos) police and the National Capital Region Police Office have joined hands to solve the torching of five buses of Victory Liner and the wounding of six policemen and a company employee here last Wednesday night.

Chief Superintendent Luizo Ticman, Region 1 police director, and NCRPO chief Director Leopoldo Bataoil went here yesterday to exchange notes and map out strategies to solve the case, as another Victory Liner bus was burned in the company’s terminal in Cubao, Quezon City several months ago.

Bataoil, who hails from this town, said they had to coordinate to determine if the twin arson attacks were related.

Ticman and Bataoil said they were still pursuing several angles in the two incidents, including labor dispute, extortion attempt by the New People’s Army or foiled robbery.

No group has owned up to the attacks, Ticman said.

The attackers shot the six patrolling policemen as they fled aboard two unlicensed vehicles. Some of them were believed wounded in the brief firefight.