Phil. Daily Inquirer, October 2, 2006
A fire of still unknown origin razed the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) in Bayugan, Agusan del Sur on Sept. 24. Bayugan fire chief Senior Fire Officer Avelino Cortez said investigation showed that the fire started at around 11 p.m. at the office of Cenro Jaime Acebu. Arnulfo Simine, spokesperson of the antigraft watchdog Bantay Bayan-Butuan, said the fire was a cause for concern because it occurred when environment officials were being investigated for alleged involvement in the illegal logging trade in the province. Acebu said Simine’s allegations were baseless. He urged those insinuating that the incident was deliberate to wait for the official result of the investigation being conducted by fire authorities. Cortez said his personnel immediately responded to the fire call but failed to retrieve any document. Damage was put at P3 million.
