Unidentified armed men set on fire the house of a re-elected barangay captain who is facing complaints of frustrated murder, in Murcia, Negros Occidental, on Sunday night, police said yesterday.

Pandanon Silos Brgy. Capt. Leando de la Torre, who with five tanods, is facing a criminal complaint for the injury of Mary Ann Marañon, accompanied by his wife, Norietta, and lone witness Ruel Ortega, 11, reported to the Murcia Police Station, that his house was razed by fire. Damage was estimated at P1.5 million.

De la Torre said that one of the five suspects woke up Ortega, his 11-year-old nephew, whom he had left behind at their house in Brgy. Pandonon Silos, Murcia , as he had attended a benefit dance in the nearby purok.

Police investigations show that the witness heard the voice of a certain “ Moron ”, shortly before the suspects burned the house.

Fire Officer 2 Sanerlo Legaspi, arson investigator of the Murcia Bureau of Fire and Protection, however, said they cannot yet ascertain if it was arson, as they are still investigating the case.

Legaspi said they were told that the suspects carried firearms, and had ordered the minor to get out from the house before setting it on fire.

Board Member Patrick Lacson (3 rd district, Negros Occ.) yesterday said his help was sought by de la Torre to place the lone witness under the Witness Protection Program of the Department of Justice.

He said the father of the witness expressed fear over the security of his son, whom he will refer to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

De la Torre said in radio interviews that he believes the burning of his residence was politically-motivated.

De la Torre and Pandanon Silos Kagawad Jose Magsico traded accusations on the injury of Marañon, who happened to pass with several others, when the alleged ambush incident took place in the barangay, a night before the Oct. 29 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Marañon was treated for a bullet wound in the head for almost two months at the Riverside Medical Center . She was later transferred to a hospital in Metro Manila for further treatment. She is still bedridden, members of her family said.*GPB

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