Reds behind Baliwag bus burning nabbed

BAGUIO CITY — Government forces arrested on Saturday morning two communist rebels believed responsible for the burning of a Baliwag Transit bus last June 3, the military reported yesterday.

The suspects, identified as Benigno Dichoso, alias Benny, and Ofelia Saklamitao, alias Upeng, were alleged members of Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda (SYP) Front 2 of the Nueva Ecija Provincial Committee (NEPCOM) of the mainstream Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

Lieutenant Colonel Preme Monta, spokesman of the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM), said they recovered one caliber .38 with defaced serial number, 15 live ammunition, a dagger, a handheld ICOM radio, one holster for caliber .38, a jungle hammock and voluminous subversive documents from the two suspects.

The two will be charged with arson, frustrated murder and violation of Presidential Decree 1866 in relation to Republic Act 8294 (illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives), Monta said.

The military said the NPA rebels flagged down the Baliwag Transit bus traversing Maharlika Highway enroute to Manila at dawn of June 3 at Sitio Sabado Nights, Barangay Piut, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija.

After ordering its passengers to alight from the vehicle, the rebels burned the bus.

Authorities said this was the rebels’ punishment against the bus firm for allegedly not paying "revolutionary taxes." — Artemio Dumlao and Benjie Villa