2 robbers, 2 passengers killed in bus firefight

CALAMBA CITY — Four people, including two highway robbers, were killed while two others were wounded when a Manila-bound air-conditioned passenger bus was held up by four armed men along the South Luzon Expressway here Friday night.

PO1 Pepito Alibuyoc, 27, a neophyte policeman detailed at the Region 5 (Bicol Region) Mobile Group, single handedly shot dead two unidentified robbers while the robbery was in progress between 7:30 and 8 p.m. Friday along the expressway.

But the two other robbers managed to escape with their loot, leaving their two dead companions inside the ill-fated bus JAM Liner, with plate number NYG 809 and driven by certain Deffrey Ramos, a native of Talisay, Cebu.

Superintendent Virgilio Tibayan, Calamba City police chief, identified one of the two slain passengers as Felix Pantas, chairman of Barangay Masalukot, Candelaria, Quezon and the wounded passengers as Jose Bunag of Pleasant Village, Lucena City, who sustained gunshot wounds in the legs, and Alibuyoc, who was hit slightly on the chest hands and thigh when he traded shots with the robbers.

Tibayan said the two slain robbers as well as the slain passenger have remained unidentified at the Tres Amigos Funeral Homes in Manila.

Investigation disclosed that four holdup men boarded the bus along the Maharlika Highway, Barangay Turbina in Calamba City at about 7:25 p.m. Friday. Several minutes later, while the bus was approaching the Canlubang toll booth, the four announced the holdup.

Outnumbered but determined to fight, Alibuyoc, who was seated at the right third seat, fatally shot the robber who was commandeering the bus and then grappled with the gun of the second holdup man sitting beside him, who then managed to shoot Alibuyoc slightly at his chest and both hands.

Investigations disclosed that despite being wounded, Alibuyoc managed to fire back at the second robber, hitting the latter fatally. He continuously fought it out with the two other hold uppers at the back of the bus.

He was, however, hit in the right thigh by one of the robbers, forcing him to alight when the bus stopped a few meters away from the Canlubang toll booth.

Meanwhile, the two other robbers continuously divested the passengers of their cash and valuables and commandeered anew the bus towards north. They alighted along San Andres Bukid, Manila after holding hostage for a few minutes passenger Gina Cabornay, a resident of Cainta, Rizal.

Cabornay was released unharmed.

The bus driver then took the slain and the wounded men to the Philippine General Hospital.