Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into the death of a security guard and the burning of a bunkhouse, office, staff house and livelihood center in Sitio Asay, Barangay Gumatdang, Itogon, Benguet, on Monday night.

Based on the initial investigation, the suspect was also a security guard. Provincial reporter Romeo Gonzales reported that the incident stemmed from a heated argument among drinking guards inside their barracks, which escalated when one of them fired his gun. The shooting was followed by a blaze that engulfed their barracks.

According to the Itogon Bureau of Fire Protection, the fire alarm was received around 9:00 p.m. and was declared under control at about 1:21 a.m., after more than four hours of firefighting operations.

In a Facebook post, the Public Information Office of Itogon said Mayor Bernard S. Waclin visited the area on Tuesday morning to assess the situation.

"The fire razed one bunkhouse, one staff house, and one office building, including the PAMANA-DSWD Gumatdang Community Livelihood Center, where grocery items and a tricycle used for livelihood operations were also burned," the post read.

Mayor Waclin assured the nine affected families of the local government’s support and directed the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) to provide immediate relief assistance.

He also appealed to both the public and private sectors for donations to help the affected families recover from the loss of their homes and belongings.

Meanwhile, police are pursuing the suspect responsible for the death of the security guard.