Sketches of 3 suspects in bus burning released

LAGUNA, Philippines – A bus company released yesterday the police digital sketches of three of the 15 men who torched 10 of its buses in Pagsanjan town last Aug. 12.

Homer Mercado, owner of the HM bus company, des-cribed the three arsonists as aged 35 to 50, about 5’4” to 5’7’’ tall, and having medium build and brown complexion.

Mercado expressed hope that the digital sketches would help identify the arsonists.

He admitted that police probers are still clueless in the case.

Mercado raised the reward for the arrest of the arsonists to P500,000 last Friday, saying he is also willing to increase the amount.

Mercado said his company decided to release the sketches to the media to help the police in the investigation.

Mercado earlier said the arson was an offshoot of a union dispute and not an attack by communist rebels.