Fire hits USM building

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines– A mysterious fire razed Wednesday dawn parts of the administration building of the controversial University of Southern Mindanao (USM) in Kabacan town, less than a week after an attempt to burn down the school’s college of animal science office.

A grenade explosion also rocked the campus of the USM last month, hours after a new university president assumed office.

Ibrahim Guiamalon, Kabacan’s municipal fire marshal, said the conflagration that hit the school’s administration building started at the office of Romulo Cena, a senior USM official.

Guimalon  estimated that the fire damaged properties worth between P3 million and P5 million.

There were indications of arson at the fire scene, he said.

USM’s newly-installed president, Francisco Gil Garcia, said the incident has not affected the school’s operation.

He urged students and faculty members to avoid speculating on the spate of incidents in the campus.

Influential aspirants, some backed by political quarters, lost to Garcia during the election for USM president two weeks ago.

Two men blasted fragmentation grenades at the USM motorpool about four hours after Garcia took over the school presidency from an outgoing officer-in-charge.

Arsonists had tried to burn down, using kerosene and torches, the building of the USM’s animal science college a week later.

The arson attempt was foiled by responding security guards.