NPA rebels burn bus in Compostela

DAVAO CITY — Suspected communist rebels burned a Philtranco bus along Kilometer 114 of the Davao-Agusan national highway in Monkayo, Compostela Valley.

The Southern Mindanao police said the Philtranco bus, with license plate PYT-265, came from Davao City and was on its two-day trip to Pasay City in Metro Manila, when about 50 New People’s Army rebels flagged it down in Barangay Banlag, Monkayo town.

The guerrillas, led by a certain Dionisio Tiongco, alias Kumander Bibit, reportedly asked the passengers to disembark before pouring gasoline on the vehicle and setting it on fire.

Reports said the rebels even asked the passengers to take their belongings with them before torching the bus.

Police said the rebels were only intimidating the Philtranco management since no one among the bus passengers was hurt.

The rebels were reportedly armed with rocket-propelled grenades and M60 machineguns.

According to intelligence reports, the rebel group also planned to waylay and burn buses of other transport firms plying the Davao-Agusan national highway. — Edith Regalado