'Passenger buses in RP dangerous'

MANILA, Philippines – Traveling on Philippine passenger buses is dangerous because of accidents caused by driver error and brake failure, as well as the bombings perpetrated by criminal syndicates, according to a multinational risk consultancy firm.

In a report dated Oct. 25, the Pacific Strategies and Assessments (PSA) said passenger buses in Mindanao, particularly those traveling the Davao-Cotabato routes, have been regular targets of criminal groups.

“There is a significant risk of traveling on passenger buses in the Philippines. Over the course of the last several months, there have also been multiple major bus accidents across the country involving mostly driver error and brake failure,” PSA said. “While the threat of bus bombings in most areas of the country remains low, clients are strongly advised to avoid all bus travel in the Philippines, particularly Mindanao.”

PSA has offices in Manila, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Bangkok, Milwaukee and Sydney.

PSA data showed that last month, five explosions in passenger buses occurred in one week, three of which were supposedly perpetrated by the Al Khobar extortion syndicate.

The explosion incidents happened in Don Rufino and Magallanes Streets, Quezon Ave., and Barangay Tamontaka all in Cotabato City; and Sultan Kudarat in Maguindanao.

PSA said Al Khobar is a Mindanao-based extortion group that has claimed responsibility for the series of bus bombings along the Davao-General Santos-Koronadal-Cotabato and the Davao-Digos-Matalam- Cotabato routes.

The report said the Oct. 21 Rural Transit bus explosion in Matalam, North Cotabato, which killed ten people, may have been caused by extortion activities.

“Several bus companies in North Cotabato and Davao provinces commonly receive and reject criminal extortion demands and there is no reason to believe that the Rural Transit bus line which was targeted in this case is any different,” PSA said.

The firm said there is no indication that the bombing was related to the Oct. 25 barangay elections because local politicians in Mindanao do not rely on extortion activities to fund their campaign.

PSA said the differing accounts on the North Cotabato incident show the “government’s inability to establish proper command and control and conduct a proper investigation.”

“Some government security officials are ruling out extortion as the motive and pinning the blame on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which they say launched the attack in retaliation for the arrest of one of their members in Davao City on Sept. 22,” PSA said.

“At the same time, other security officials are contending that the bus bombing is a clear cut and standard example of retaliation for a failed extortion bid by one of several organized extortion groups operating in the area,” it added.

The MILF has denied involvement in the bus explosion, saying it would affect the peace talks with the government. Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Talino-Mendoza urged the government yesterday to deploy armed marshals to deter criminals from targeting public buses, terminals and passengers.

“The people are tired and sick of these attacks on buses that have already cost us so many lives. These are difficult times that call for highly aggressive countermeasures to guard the riding public,” she said.

She said the marshals should be able to operate individually without backup.

“They should integrate with commuters and rely on extraordinary training in criminal behavior, firearms proficiency, close quarters combat techniques, bus specific tactics, and investigative methods,” she said. – With Jess Diaz