Victory’s ex-employees eyed as suspects in attack
LINGAYEN — A group of disgruntled former employees is being suspected as the perpetrators behind the burning of five buses of Victory Liner at the company’s terminal here last November 26, police authorities said.
The police also released last week the cartographic sketches of three of about 10 attackers who also clashed with and wounded six of responding policemen.
At a news conference on December 1, Police Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Percival Barba said their investigation indicate that the company may have gotten the ire of some employees who were recently dismissed for failing to meet the company’s standards.
Barba said Task Force Victory, composed of elements of the intelligence branch of the Police Provincial Office, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Lingayen Police and the Police Crime Laboratory, are now comparing the burning of the five buses here with similar incidents at the Cubao station and at the San Fabian station of Five Star Bus Company, a sister company of Victory Liner.
A bus of Victory Liner bound for Baguio City from Quezon City was also torched about four years ago in Sison town after it was hijacked by armed men along the highway.
The theory that a labor dispute could be behind the incident was bolstered by the fact that based on the cartographic sketches of the armed men released by the police, the suspects are between 40 to 45 years old, the average age of the bus company’s employees.
The police also said the involvement of the New People’s Army is being ruled out as the armed men did not introduce themselves, which is customary in rebel attacks in order to gain media mileage for the group’s cause.
No other person or group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Barba said the police have provided additional security to all bus terminals of Victory Liner and other bus companies as well as the vital installations within the province.
Barba also denied reports that the armed men detonated rifle grenades into the buses as there was no evidence found supporting this. He also said findings of the Scene of the Crime Operatives show that the armed men poured kerosene, not paint thinner, on the buses before setting these on fire.
WOUNDED COPS
Meanwhile, Superintendent Harris Fama, chief of police of Lingayen, said all the six wounded policemen are now out of danger and would be released from the hospital soon.
Governor Amado Espino Jr. visited four of the six wounded policemen, PO1 Alex de Guzman, PO1 Reynaldo Domalanta, PO1 Armeno Abarabar and PO1 Ramon Valencerina at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital on November 28 where he promised them that the provincial government will shoulder their hospital expenses not covered by their existing health insurance.
The two others, PO3 Daniel Sison and PO1 Herman Camba, remained at the Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City.
Barba said the six, who were awarded the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting by Police Regional Director Luizo Ticman, have been recommended for promotion to the next higher rank for their bravery and heroism.—LM
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