Officials eye extortion in Bukidnon bus bombing, stricter measures in place

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 11): Officials eye extortion in Bukidnon bus bombing, stricter measures in place

Local officials here today said the bombing of a Rural Transit bus that left 11 people dead and 43 others wounded, was carried out by extortion gang operating in the province and nearby areas.

Bukidnon Gov. Jose Maria Zubiri told reporters after a security briefing with security officials that extortion was the most likely motive of the December 9 bomb attack that also destroyed the bus few meters from the main entrance of the Central Mindanao University.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the bomb was fashioned from 81 or 60 mm mortar with mobile phone as trigger mechanism.

Zubiri said the same make of IED was used against the same bus firm on November 6, also in Maramag, that left four persons wounded.

The firm with routes from Cagayan de Oro City to Bukidnon to North Cotabato and Tacurong City, had been subjected to similar bomb attacks in the past.

The Bukidnon police office is now reviewing the CCTV footage at the Maramag public terminal to determine the facial features of the man who boarded the bus but later alighted.

Police said the firm has also been receiving extortion demands from lawless elements, including al-Khobar extortion gang, operating in North Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces.

The ill-fated bus left Banisilan in North Cotabato to Wao in Lanao del Sur en route to Cagayan de Oro City via Maramag, Bukidnon.

Many of the fatalities and wounded were students who boarded the bus as it passed by and parked in front of the main gate of the state university.

Zubiri said he is waiting for the police and military to complete their investigation before concluding the motive.

Rural Transit Mindanao Incorporated, the operator of Rural Bus, was said to be paying "protection money" to ensure the safety of its units traversing critical areas in its routes.

Police initially focused its eyes on the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), an outlawed group operating mainly in Maguindanao and had been engaging the military in several skirmishes.

But the BIFF denied it was involved saying the group does not attack civilians.

Following the incident, Gov.Zubiri directed the police to implement preventive measures, among them the deployment of plainclothesmen in the bus or stricter inspection at bus terminals.

The police also directed the bus firm not to take in passengers in between terminals to ensure all incoming passengers are properly checked.

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