Reward in Laguna arson now P.5 M

LAGUNA , Philippines   â€“ A bus company yesterday offered an additional P200,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those behind the burning of 10 of its buses in Pagsanjan town last Aug. 12, bringing the total bounty to P500,000.

Homer Mercado, owner of the HM bus company, said five security guards, who were on duty when the arson occurred, were summoned yesterday for polygraph or lie detector tests due to inconsistencies in their statements.

Mercado said no suspect has been identified, and he believes that the arson was an offshoot of a union dispute and not a rebel attack.

Chief Superintendent Jesus Gatchalian, Calabarzon regional director, said his probers will soon release the digital sketches of two of the 15 arsonists.