Authorities have arrested four individuals allegedly responsible for setting a mini-bus in Catanauan, Quezon on fire on January 31, 2024.

The suspects reportedly stopped the vehicle and forced three passengers, the driver, and the conductor out before setting the bus on fire using a Molotov cocktail.

"Binanggit daw [ng mga suspects], 'Hindi ito hold-up, lumalabas lang kayo ng sasakyan.' Then pagkalabas ng sasakyan, binatuhan ng molotov cocktail [yung bus], 'yun 'yung nag-cause ng sunog," PCol. Ledon Monte, Director of the Quezon Provincial Police Office (QPPO), said.

Authorities coordinated with Mulanay, a neighboring municipality, to track the suspects down.

"Nag-ikot sila sa mga lodging houses and dito sa resort merong nagfi-fit na description doon sa apat na hinahanap. Ang sinasabi [ng respondents], nag-check in daw ng bandang alas singko nang hapon pero umalis din kaagad, [tapos] bumalik sa hotel mga madaling araw na," Monte added.

The suspects denied involvement in the incident but the passengers and bus driver identified them positively. They said they visited the area only for leisure. 

The police are looking into the supposed tension between legitimate and unauthorized transport groups as motive in the incident.

"Nagkakainitan itong dalawang grupo ng cooperative, itong mga legit na cooperative at itong mga nangongolorum," Monte said.

Investigation into the incident continues, as of this writing.