4 killed as gunmen attack passenger bus in S. Philippines

Two policemen, a bus driver and his assistant were killed when a group of armed men, clad in military and police uniforms, attacked a passenger bus in the southern Philippine province of Lanao del Norte early Thursday, military officials said.

The undetermined number of suspects attacked the Rural Bus, apparently because the bus firm failed to satisfy their extortion demands, said Romeo Lustestica, commander of the Army's 1st Infantry Division.

The bus was intercepted at a checkpoint in Kapatagan town established by the suspects, armed with M16 and M14 rifles and cal.45 pistols, at around 1 a.m., Lustestica said, adding the suspects then shot dead the bus driver, Jaime Duhaylunsod; conductor Arkie Bastasas; and two police officers -- Jovito Cabigas and Roselito Obatay, who were both assigned with the Kapatagan town police station.

"(The) bus was stopped, the passengers were told to alight before the killing and burning of bus," said Lustestica, adding that forces from the Army's 35th Infantry Battalion are now in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) "for further joint dispositive actions on the incident."

He said the PNP is still conducting an investigation on the incident and there are no official words on the identities of the perpetrators.

"Initial field assessment is (its related) on the extortion demand of lawless elements of 25 million pesos (551,800 US dollars) to 50 million pesos (1.1 million US dollars) from the company as payment for death of four people who were reportedly from the Lanao provinces (and) who were bumped by Rural Bus in La Libertad, Misamis Oriental a few months back," said Luctestica.

Without elaborating, Lustestica said the attack could have been prompted by the "franchise dispute of the Lanao del Norte route."

He said the passengers of the ill-fated bus overheard the perpetrators saying "The retaliation is not over."in one of the local Lanao dialects.

"Note that no passenger was held up, abducted or molested. The atrocity is directed against the bus company," the Army general added.