Gen. Santos City - Five sports utility vehicles (SUVs) were set on fire in various streets of Gen. Santos City on Thursday night, with the perpetrators and their motives still unknown. Col. Nicomedes Olaivar, the city's police chief, confirmed the incident in a radio interview on Friday.
According to Philippines News Agency, they have identified persons of interest based on security camera footage and are actively pursuing them.
One of the vehicles was completely destroyed, while four others suffered burns on their tires, under the engines, and on the fenders, indicating attempts to burn them. Initial reports suggest the suspects were on motorcycles, placing incendiary materials under the parked SUVs before fleeing. Bystanders and car owners managed to extinguish the fires in some cases, saving the vehicles. Witnesses reported that the group included teenagers. The targeted vehicles were parked along Narangita, Marang, and Niyog Streets in the downtown area. Police are continuing their investigation to determine the reasons behind these acts of arson, with the Bureau of Fire Protection leading the probe.