'Inside job,' extortion possible motive in Lapanday warehouse fire

KORONADAL CITY - Police authorities here are looking at 'inside job' or extortion as the possible motive in the burning of the warehouse of a multi-national banana firm in Polomolok, South Cotabato the other day.Senior Supt. Jose Briones, South Cotabato police provincial director, several angles are being looked into as the motive in the burning of Lapanday Foods Corporation warehouse. What puzzled police probers was the missing security guard on duty at the time of the fire in Koronadal proper.Zainudin Nilong, the blue guard, remained missing as of posting, Briones said.Several sacks of fertilizers and facilities were destroyed in the fire estimated to have cost more than P2 million.Following the incident, the Lapanday firm was mulling to shut down operation, reports said.This plan worried some 60 plantation workers.Ramon Climaco, one of the workers, was teary-eyed when he spoke about the fate of laborers following the incident. I could not imagine how could my three children pursue education if I lose my job, he said in Filipino.