2 Cagayan school buildings torched

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – Two public school buildings in the remote town of Baggao in northernmost Cagayan were torched by still unidentified men last Tuesday morning, police said.

Senior Inspector Charles Bueno, Baggao police chief, said the involvement of communist rebels in the arson attack on the San Jose Elementary School was “farfetched and very remote.”

“We still have no definite lead yet, but we believe that it is more the (handiwork) of pranksters rather than the NPA,” Bueno said.

Fire damage was placed at P2.5 million. – Charlie Lagasca