Probers to check for arson in DPWH office fire

CEBU CITY—Fire gutted an old building that housed the fifth engineering district of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Central Visayas  in Barangay Tinago, Cebu City, on Friday.

Investigators said they were told by DPWH officials that some important documents and pieces of equipment were damaged or destroyed in the blaze.

The ground floor of the 40-year-old building was occupied by the resident auditor of the DPWH and the office of the bids and awards committee.

The fire broke out from the second floor past 6 p.m. when all employees had gone home, said F03 Lowel Opolentisima, fire investigator of the Cebu City fire department. It was put out after an hour.

Opolentisima said the fire might have been triggered by faulty electrical wiring. But he said investigators were not ruling out arson.

He said debris left by the fire would be tested.