Probe of fire at 100-year-old Pangasinan school sought

BAYAMBANG, Pangasinan, Philippines  – Various groups here have called for an investigation into cause of a fire that burned the 100-year-old Gabaldon-type building of Bayambang Elementary School early Wednesday.

Senior Fire Officer 2 Jose Beltran ruled out arson, saying they are looking at faulty electrical wiring as the cause of the two-hour fire.

Beltran told The STAR it will take seven to 15 days before they could come out with a progress report on the incident.

Pangasinan Rep. Ma. Rachel Arenas, who visited the school yesterday, promised to donate funds for the construction of three new classrooms, even as she appealed to the people to refrain from speculating on the cause of the fire.               

“We will just hope and pray that whatever happens with the investigation, (I hope) it would be for the good of the people of Bayambang,” Arenas said.