Fire hits Zamboanga bus terminal

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / November 2, 2009) – A huge fire burned down Monday an old provincial bus depot in Zamboanga City in Mindanao, but there were no reports of casualties, officials said.

Officials said an investigation is going on to determine the cause of the fire that swept through the bus depot that also destroyed many stalls and other establishments in the village of Guiwan.

The fire left Zamboanga City without any bus terminals.

A proposed new bus depot by the Zamboanga City government was temporarily held after two private contractors – RCDG Construction and Dimson Construction - filed graft charges against the mayor, Celso Lobregat, and several more, mostly members of bids and awards committee, accusing them of irregularity.

Lobregat denied the accusations and claimed the contractors allegedly violated provisions in the bidding rules. Both firms denied Lobregat’s claims. (Mindanao Examiner)