1 dead, 1 hurt in bus shooting

MANILA, Philippines - An unidentified attacker shot dead a passenger on a bus and wounded another as the vehicle was traveling along the South Luzon Expressway in Barangay Putatan, Muntinlupa City yesterday morning.

Initial reports identified the fatality as Wenceslao Malabanan and the wounded as Marcelino Mendoza. Investigators are still checking the background of the victims.

Chief Superintendent Jose Erwin Villacorte, Southern Police District director, said a manhunt has been launched for the gunman and his companions.

According to a police report, the gunman, his companions and his victims were passengers of the BMC Transport bus (TYN-739).

The gunman, seated behind the victims, shot them as the bus traveled along the expressway. The attackers fled on foot after ordering the bus driver to stop near the Aglipayan Cemetery.

No slugs were recovered from the bus, said Chief Inspector Conrado Bunyi, who heads the city police’s criminal investigation division.

Investigators ruled out robbery as a motive because nothing was taken from the victims.

“It’s a murder case, not robbery,” a police official said.