ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 11, 2013) – Philippine police said at least 4 people were wounded after gunmen attacked a provincial bus late Monday in the southern province of Zamboanga Sibugay.
Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, a regional police spokesman, said the air conditioned bus, owned by Rural Transit Mindanao, was travelling in the town of Naga when it came under attack near the village of Baga.
“The bus was strafed by unidentified armed men and four passengers were wounded in the attack,” Huesca told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
He said the wounded were rushed to the Pathfinder Hospital in the town of Kabasalan in Zamboanga Sibugay. The bus, which came from Zamboanga City, was heading to Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur province.
“Police are now conducting an investigation into the strafing and police forces are also tracking down the attackers,” Huesca said.
Police did not release the names of the victims, but a local radio network dxRZ-Radyo Agong identified three of the wounded as Danilo Fuentes, the bus conductor; Ramon Navalta, its driver, and passenger Ailyn Canos, of Pagadian City.
Earlier this month, four gunmen, who posed as passengers, also held up another Rural bus in the town of Kabasalan and shot and wounded one passenger before escaping with their loot. Police said the four men flagged down the bus, driven by Alexander Atis, in Naga town and declared the heist upon reaching a secluded village.
The men were armed with guns and knives and threatened the passengers as they collected wallets and personal belongings from the terrified civilians. One of the gunmen fired at the bus and hit one passenger, Marie Francis Sungkuya, 28. The bus was travelling to Pagadian City from Ipil town. (Mindanao Examiner)
20