Anti-crime group chief, 4 others face arson charges at DOJ

MANILA, Philippines — United Pilipino Against Crime and Corruption (UPACC) Chairperson Pyra Nucum Lucas and four other individuals face an “destructive arson” complaint before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for allegedly intentionally burning a couple’s newly-built home in Capas, Tarlac.

Complainants Emil and Analyn Cadiang — the couple who filed the complaint against Lucas, Arthur Aquino, and three other unidentified individuals — said the supposed destructive arson took place on June 28 last year.

Analyn asserted in their affidavit that she personally saw Lucas and another individual destroying their house in Barangay Bueno before this was eventually burned.

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The complainant called the “destructive arson” case as allegedly motivated by “land-grabbing.”

Analyn pointed out that Aquino, who was their neighbor, had a dispute with their family since 2023 regarding the land in which their house was located.

Aquino was allegedly repeatedly asserting that approximately 260 square meters of the land belonged to him and that the complainants had no right to live there.

Meanwhile, Analyn said Lucas allegedly served as Aquino’s attorney-in-fact during their appearance at the barangay regarding the land dispute.

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“Sa katunayan, sa isa sa mga pag-uusap na iyon sa Barangay, paulit-ulit akong minura ni Gng. Pyra at mariing pinipilit na umalis sa aming Bagong Tahanan,” the complainant said in the affidavit.

(In fact, during one of those conversations in the Barangay, Mrs. Pyra repeatedly cursed at me and strongly pressured me to leave our New Home.)

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The complainants’ lawyer, Atty. Betlee-John Barraquias, in a letter addressed to DOJ Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon, said that while the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Tarlac has the jurisdiction over the instant case, “the participation of the complainants during the preliminary investigation may be seriously affected, as the latter already expressed fear for their lives and safety.”

“This is precisely the reason why it took the complainants more than a year from the commission of the crime in filing the instant case,” the counsel said.

‘Politically motivated’

Sought for comment, Lucas, in a statement sent to the INQUIRER, denied the destructive arson filed against her, calling it “politically motivated.”

“As a matter of fact, I wrote to the Barangay Officials of Bueno, Capas, Tarlac, requesting them to look into the matter of the fence and nipa hut that were illegally built on the property of Mr. Arthur Aquino. I asked the Barangay officials to resolve it legally and peacefully. We did not commit any illegal acts,” Lucas said.

Lucas said she believes that the accusations against her were intended to harass and destroy her reputation. 

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She said that she received information that politicians, who she described as “corrupts,” allegedly coordinated with a certain “syndicate” behind the supposed “Tanim-Kaso” scheme aiming to destroy her.

“Months before these allegations arose, I had already received information that Emil and Analyn Cadiang would be used to file a fabricated case against me. Notably, when the issue surfaced in local news sometime in March or April, it failed to gain public attention,” she said.

“I am concerned that the present case is part of a renewed effort to silence and discredit me because of my advocacy against corruption and my efforts to expose wrongdoing,” Lucas pointed out.

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“There are witnesses in the area, the passersby there, who saw Mr. Emil Cadiang inside the Nipa hut that he illegally built on the property of Mr. Aquino. While the said Nipa hut was burning down,” said the UPACC chairperson. /mr