Arson indicated in RP hotel fire<\/p>\n
COTABATO, Philippines (AFP): Police said yesterday they had
\nuncovered evidence pointing to \"arson or sabotage\" as the cause
\nof a hotel fire which killed 24 people in this southern city last
\nweekend.<\/p>\n
A fierce predawn blaze gutted the upper three floors of the
\nImperial Hotel on Saturday, killing 24 people including six
\nmembers of the former separatist guerrilla group, the Moro
\nNational Liberation Front (MNLF). Fifteen others were injured.<\/p>\n
The MILF, a Moslem guerrilla group holding peace talks with
\nthe government, denied any involvement in the fire yesterday.<\/p>\n
Police said fire investigators found a petroleum canister in
\nroom number 305 of the six-story building, designated by
\nmanagement as the Islamic prayer room, and another in room 319.<\/p>\n
The two-hour blaze struck a day before the scheduled arrival
\nhere of Moslem autonomous region governor Nur Misuari, the leader
\nof the MNLF which signed a peace treaty with the government last
\nyear, ending a 24-year separatist guerrilla campaign.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/arson-indicated-in-rp-hotel-fire-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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