CEBU, Philippines — The truck Fifth District Rep. Vincent “Duke” Frasco donated to Camotes Island, which went ablaze on January 17, was not burned intentionally.
In a report, the Office of the Fire Marshal in San Francisco town said the fire may have been because of "electrical ignition caused by loose connection."
“Investigators concluded that the possible cause of fire is electrical ignition caused by loose connection and is considered accidental,” the report reads.
The report was based on the spot investigation report, mission order, photographs taken at the burned area, and a sketch.
The report said further that fire personnel have noticed that the passenger side and front right side tire of the vehicle were gutted partially.
They also found out that the cable wire of the battery was detached from the terminal prior to the fire marshals’ arrival.
No one reportedly saw how the fire started since the informants already saw the truck in flames after getting awakened by an explosion.
"Based on the investigation by the investigators of this station, the fire originated at the wirings of the alternator of the vehicle causing the damage. The fire spread upward and sideward causing the right side of the tire to explode and partially damage the front passenger side of the vehicle," the report reads.
The Freeman reached out to Frasco for comment yesterday but did not get a reply.
On January 17, Frasco posted on social media pictures of the Mitsubishi Canter dump truck, which was already scorched. The truck was parked in Barangay Unidos, San Francisco town in Camotes Islands.
Frasco wrote on Facebook:
"The harassment, intimidation, violence, and destruction inflicted upon the people of the 5th District have gone on for decades. Now that I have become the Congressman of the District, the people are being punished for exercising their right to choose change, and to have hope."
Frasco defeated former Fifth District Rep. "Red" Durano IV during the May 2019 polls, a victory that ended the Duranos’ leadership in the district that ran for about 70 years.
Shortly after Frasco went on social media, the Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (BAKUD) Party, primarily lead by the Duranos, was quick to say that Frasco orchestrated the fire himself.
"He has gone to the extent of burning (not literal, hopefully) bridges just to be able to cry persecution when, the people of the district know very well, that the ‘persecuted’ is allegedly the saboteur himself," the statement read. (FREEMAN)