Arson eyed in Butuan fire

BUTUAN CITY – The Bureau of Fire Protection office here is now investigating allegations that the fire which burned three business establishments was intentional not accidental.

The Bureau of Fire Protection Butuan City office said they were puzzled why the three business establishments owned by the same family lineage was simultaneously razed by fire.

According to Fire Officer 2 Alex Suarez, at around 1:25 a.m. Wednesday they received distress calls about an ongoing fire in Barangay Doongan and later they found out that simultaneously a fire also hit Barangay Holy Redeemer, this city.

They found out that the buildings hit by fires were owned by the Escala family who made a fortune in the scrap iron business.

The fire department will probe possible business rivalry as the motive behind the arson incident, according to authorities.

The burned properties were Aqua Steel Corp. located at Purok 6, Upper Doongan, this city which is owned by Daisy Escala Adunto, wife of Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Bebot Adunto of Agusan del Norte, the Escala Tire Shop, owned by Junjun Escala, brother of Daisy and Butuan Tire Supply owned by Sammy Putian located in Purok 7, Holy Redeemer, this city.

The fire department estimated the damage to be approximately P1.5 million. – Ben Serrano