FO2 Kyle Nichol Reyes of the Cagayan de Oro Fire District confirmed the preliminary release of the primary suspect in the Sta. Cruz 2, Barangay Lapasan fire, explaining that initial admissions occurred extrajudicially without an in flagrante delicto arrest.

Reyes assured the public that the Bureau of Fire Protection and law enforcement agencies are actively gathering official witness testimonies and CCTV footage to formalize arson charges for judicial proceedings.