Councilman’s house set on fire
At least four unidentified motorcycleriding men were caught on closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera setting on fire the house of Barangay Tejero councilman Jessielou Cadungog yesterday dawn.
The incident caused Cadungog's neighbors to panic but some were quick to respond and able to extinguish the fire before the firemen arrived.
Cadungog and his family were not around when the incident happened as he abandoned his property in Tejero shortly after the criminal complaints for murder and attempted murder filed against him over the killing of a policeman were dismissed last August.
Tejero Barangay Captain Hermogenes Galang said they do not know the whereabouts of Cadungog since he applied for a six-month leave of absence.
“Wala na, gikan atong paggawas niya sa NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) wala na gyud siya mo apil sa among session kay ni file man siya og six months nga leave,” Galang.
Senior Fire Officer 1 Ariel Balajodia, fire investigator, said they received the fire alarm at 2:09 a.m. A fire truck was immediately dispatched but the residents were able to put out the fire at 2:12 a.m.
CCTV footage shows two men onboard a motorcycle threw a bottle filled with gasoline into the house. Another pair of motorcycleriding men came and set the house on fire.
"Sa investigation nato nga gibuhat sa nahitabo diri arson gyud ni, containers sa bottled water pero ang sulod gasolina, naa pa ta nakit-an nga CCTV permiro naa nagmotor duha ka tawo, naay angkas mao nag-itsa sa container tapos naa nisunod duha ka motor naa pud angkas mao pud gaduslit," Balajodia said.
Fortunately, the house was made of concrete and steel materials making it less-prone to fire.
Denbhel Sebial, one of Cadungog's neighbors, said his wife woke him up after they noticed the fire. He was one of those who extinguished the fire.
Except for two engine compressors of airconditioning units, no other damage was reported. The fire department pegged the damage at P2,000.
Senior Inspector Joemar Pomarejos, Waterfront Police Station chief, was dismayed by the alleged uncooperative behavior of the family of Cadungog.
Pomarejos said they were never informed about the incident. He said they could have conducted hot pursuit operation against the people responsible for the foiled arson.
"I just want to say something regarding sa incident, madismaya lang ko kay wala'y nipahibawo namo diri sa police station. And dili mi makahibaw if wala nag-roving amo mobile, ato ra nahibaw-an nga naa diay gisunog," he said.
Pomarejos said it was only after six hours that they learned about the incident.
"Katong mga suspect magukod unta nato ma-hot pursuit,” he said. He also dispelled speculations that the police were behind the arson attempt.
"That is not our work, illegal ra kaayo," Pomarejos said.
According to him, personal grudge could be the motive behind it. Galang appealed to the people behind it to spare the innocent people living at the neighborhood.
”Manghangyo ta ingon ato man gani di lang usbon to kay simbako dako gyud og damage unya ang mga tawo sa surroundings mawad-an og panimalay. Luoy kaayo niya naghinangat baya ang pasko niya paet kaayo pasko wa ta'y balay unsaon nalang," Galang said.
Cadungog earlier claimed to have been a target of a botched assassination by slain PO3 Eugene Calumba several months ago. Calumba was killed by the driver and bodyguard of Cadungog during the incident.
Police Regional Office-7 officials denied Calumba was out to ambush Cadungog. They claimed that the late policeman was conducting drug surveillance operation in Tejero when he was shot dead by bodyguard of Cadungog.
The police filed criminal complaints against Cadungog and his bodyguard but the barangay councilman was exonerated. The prosecutor's office, however, indicted his bodyguard.