Friday, October 05, 2007 Trader links robbery to fire incidents By Edmund B. Sestoso
A BUSINESSMAN had categorically stated that the series of fire incidents in Dumaguete City is not a simple case of “faulty wiring incidents.”
The businessman, who refused to be named for fear of reprisal, said his establishment was among those burned by the series of fire after the attempt to rob him. He said some factors preempted the robbery.
The businessman suspects that there is a syndicate of robbers operating in the city where they robbed certain establishment and set it on fire after.
Among this year’s fire incidents included a bunkhouse and a publication distribution outlet on separate incidents last September 30.
Firefighters first responded to an alarm reported about 4 a.m., Sunday, at the bunkhouse inside the compound of Double L Construction, owned by Lawrence Limkaichong, at Mango Avenue, Barangay Piapi, Dumaguete.
The fire department claimed that the incident was due to an alleged electrical short circuit, and destroyed a compressor, motorcycle, tire presser, tire marker, tires, paint cans, grease, spare parts and accessories, among others.
On the same day, a newspaper distribution outlet and a laundry office, in Dumaguete was also hit by fire.
Destroyed by the fire were the Hi-Top newsmags owned by Marilou Mercado, and the receiving office of American Laundry located at Katada Street, Dumaguete.
In the early part of this year, fire of unknown origin razed three business establishments in downtown Dumaguete, destroying three rows of apartments but spared three other stores at the corner of Silliman Avenue and Mariano Perdices Street, Dumaguete City.
The incident happened early dawn.
The businessman explained that the local fire officials would usually end up their probe with electrical faulty wiring or short circuits as the cause of fire without going beyond the sphere of its investigation.
The businessman said when his establishment was hit by fire, he noticed that there was a “hole created” on the ceiling where robbers tried to break in.
He said he already stored firecrackers for December sales.
When the robbers tried to pour gasoline through the hole, lit it, all the firecrackers exploded, and robbers ran away to different directions.
He urged local fire officials to widen its sphere of investigations and not limit on the “faulty wiring” angle.
He said local fire officials should closely coordinate with the local police forces in order for them to have a thorough investigation.
The businessman further explained that the modus operandi of the robbery syndicate is that when they could not rob above P5,000, they will set that establishment on fire.
The same trader reiterated that the robbers will first create a hole on the ceiling, peep through it bringing with them gasoline, study the area if they could get something, and set the establishment on fire if they get nothing.
He said he hopes that the local fire officials and the police would study the robbery angle on the series of fire incidents in Dumaguete City.
