BFP still probing cause of Tobias Fornier fire

By Jennifer P. Rendon

It may take some time before Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) investigators can determine if the fire in Tobias Fornier, Antique, was accidental or intentional.

Senior Fire Officer 4 Harry Artiaga, BFP-Tobias Fornier station chief, said investigators collected samples from the scene on Monday, Sept. 23.

“The samples will be sent today (Sept. 25) to the BFP national headquarters in Metro Manila for laboratory testing,” he said.

The test results will determine whether the fire was an act of arson. “That’s why we can’t conclude anything for now. It’s difficult to speculate,” Artiaga said.

He previously indicated that he would ask the BFP regional office to handle the investigation, considering the sensitivity of the case.

However, as of this writing, Artiaga has yet to submit a request letter to the BFP provincial office.

He mentioned that he would coordinate with the BFP Antique provincial office.

“For now, the provincial office is augmenting our investigation,” he added.

The fire, which broke out at around 1:15 a.m. on Sept. 22, caused millions of pesos in damage to vehicles parked at Hacienda Feliza, a property owned by the Tajanlangit family in Barangay Paciencia, Tobias Fornier.

The fire call was received at 1:20 a.m., and the blaze was extinguished by 2:30 a.m. Firefighters responded quickly as the location was about three kilometers from the town proper.

Three of the four vehicles parked inside a multi-purpose area at the Tajanlangit property were completely burned, including a Ford Mustang valued at approximately PHP 3 million, a GMC Hummer pickup truck worth PHP 8 million, and a Suzuki Ertiga utility vehicle priced at PHP 1.2 million.

The Ford Mustang reportedly belongs to suspended Tobias Fornier Mayor Ernesto Tajanlangit.

The Suzuki Ertiga is registered under the name of his brother, Sangguniang Panlalawigan ex-officio member Julius Cezar Tajanlangit, who is also the barangay captain of Paciencia and president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) of Tobias Fornier and the Liga ng mga Barangay – Antique. The GMC Hummer is registered to their father, Atty. Cezar Tajanlangit.

Artiaga said one vehicle was spared from the fire.