Pursuit operations on for NPA suspects in bus torching

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 13): Pursuit operations on for NPA suspects in bus torching

MAKILALA, North Cotabato -- Pursuit operations are underway for suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who torched around 8:30 a.m. Monday a unit of the Yellow Bus Line (YBL) at a secluded section of the highway in Barangay San Vicente here.

Authorities said that YBL unit bearing body no. 1888 was heading towards Davao City from Tacurong City when flagged down by six young men, aged between 18–20 years old.

The men quickly boarded the bus, pulled out handguns and declared they are NPA members amid the presence of some 30 terrified passengers.

The bus driver, identified as Victor Serondo, said the group ordered him to maneuver some 50 meters away from the highway to Sitio Bagong Silang in the same village and were told to disembark together with the passengers.

The armed men quickly opened gasoline-filled containers from their backpacks and set the bus on fire.

The suspects fled from the scene aboard five get-away motorcycles.

Responding authorities said the bus driver, conductor, two bus inspectors and all the bus passengers were not harmed during the incident.

Joint police and military roadblocks were immediately set up along the Makilala highway as pursuit operations were launched.

Local officials condemned the incident.

Makilala is one of the towns in North Cotabato where the NPA rebels are often sighted.

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