Monday, August 5, 2013

Murder of bus driver in Maguindanao blamed on extortion groups

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 5): Murder of bus driver in Maguindanao blamed on extortion groups
 
The military here blamed the al-Khobar extortion gang as the gunmen who shot dead a bus driver and wounded his conductor in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao Saturday, an Army spokesperson Monday said.

Col. Dickson Hermoso, speaking for the Army's 6th Infantry Division based in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, said the al-Khobar extortion gang, composed of former Moro rebels turned bandits, had been mulcting the Husky Bus Company, the lone bus firm serving the Cotabato-Gen. Santos Highway.

Before last Saturday's ambush, the bus firm had been subjected to previous harassment like grenade attacks, strafing and bombing by suspected extortion groups operating in Maguindanao like the al-Khobar and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

Abelardo Nicor Jr., driver of Husky Air Condition bus with body number 1188, was hit in his head and lost control of the steering wheel when two men riding in tandem on a motorbike fired cal. 45 pistol through the window of the vehicle at 12:45 p.m.

Ronaldo Ampan, 35, bus conductor, was wounded in his shoulder while Rahima Ali was also killed when the bus rammed his roadside house in Barangay Labo-Labor, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao.

The bus swerved to the right after the gunmen shot the driver, Hermoso said.

Heading for Gen. Santos City, the Husky bus left Cotabato City at past 9 a.m. and ambushed at past 12 noon, the second incident in 30 days against the public transport.

Last July 11, gunmen believed to be extortionists, strafed the bus as it approached the town of Guindulungan. Nobody was hurt in that incident which police said could be the handiwork of extortion groups.

The bus firm officials admitted it has been receiving extortion letters from armed men asking for protection money accompanied by warnings the Husky units will be subjected to harassment if the demands are ignored.

Following the incident, the military deployed uniformed personnel aboard the vehicle every time it passes by the restive towns of Guindulungan, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, Shariff Aguak, Ampatuan and Datu Abdullah Sangki.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=551519

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.