2 face arson case for blast damaging photojournalist鈥檚 car
MANILA, Philippines — Two individuals face a case of arson in connection with the blast damaging the car of a photojournalist, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) announced.
The explosion was reportedly caused by a molotov bomb lodged in the vehicle of photojournalist Michael Varcas on Feb. 19 early morning at his home in Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City.
In a statement on Wednesday, the QCPD said that while it was still conducting investigation and a follow-up operation to apprehend the suspects, a case for arson was filed against one identified individual and a John Doe before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.
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Further, the QCPD said the identified individual had previous records for illegal gambling in January and October 2024 as well as violating the Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act in March 2024.
The QCPD requested that the name of the identified suspect be withheld while the follow-up operation for his apprehension was ongoing.
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Article continues after this advertisementAccording to the QCPD’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU), a witness told them that she saw the suspect identified as “Totoy” and an unidentified male companion along Pook Aguinaldo Street in Barangay UP Campus, Quezon City on Feb. 18 evening.
The witness said the two individuals were carrying plastic bottles, pieces of cloth and a plastic container filled with gasoline with a lighter attached.
QCPD explained that when the witness asked “Totoy” if they were making a gas lamp, he responded, “Tingnan mo na lang sa balita (Just look for it on the news.)”
When news of the molotov explosion broke, the witness reported what she saw to the authorities, the Quezon City police said. It did not say when she made the report.
The QCPD added that, on March 3 afternoon, its CIDU operatives inspected the location where the suspects were last seen by the witness in Pook Aguinaldo in Barangay UP Campus.
Police recovered a 500-milliliter plastic bottle containing suspected gasoline, a one-liter plastic bottle cut in half with a white cloth inside and a glove during the inspection.
“The QCPD assures the public that a thorough investigation is ongoing to locate and apprehend the suspects involved in this crime. We will not rest until justice is served,” Director Col. Melecio Buslig Jr. said in a statement.
