Rebels torch 3 buses in Batangas

Lemery, Batangas — Three buses owned by ALPS Bus Company were torched by suspected members of the New People’s Army here yesterday after allegedly failing to pay revolutionary tax, police said.

Chief Inspector Crod Maranan, Lemery police chief, said that at around 9:30 a.m. eight armed men stormed the bus terminal in Barangay Malinis and locked the employees inside the terminal’s comfort room before setting the three buses on fire.

The suspects then ordered the cashier, identified as Louie De Torres, to hand over the cash collection amounting to P173,000 before they fled on foot.

SPO3 Celestino Austria, Lemery PNP chief investigator, told The STAR that the bus company has not been paying its revolutionary tax for three months now.

Driver Mario Escaño, in an interview, has quoted one of the rebels as saying "Hindi kasi kayo nagbabayad ng tax eh (This is because you are not paying taxes)."

Alps management has estimated the damage to be at least P8 million. — With Ed Amoroso