Bus conductor saves passengers from highway robbers

BUTUAN CITY , Philippines  – Recalling action scenes from movies he watched motivated 25-year-old bus conductor Arnel Bagayas to duplicate the feat of film heroes, this time, by saving the lives and properties of passengers of a bus he is serving as fare collector Thursday evening along the national highway in Barangay Canaway, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte some 65 kilometers away from Butuan City, Caraga region’s capital.

Bagayas told police investigators at Kitcharao municipal police station that his bus bearing body number 3146, while cruising the national highway from Surigao City bound to Butuan, two male passengers urged the bus to stop as they would disembark.

Upon disembarking, the two ordered Bagayas to open the luggage compartment situated at the lower portion of the bus because they have cargoes in it.

Upon opening, the suspects pulled out their firearms and declared a hold-up. One suspect aimed his .45 pistol at the bus driver while the other one aimed his pistol to Bagayas ordering him to hand over the day’s fare collections.

As the suspect attempted to grab the money from Bagayas’ hand, Bagayas wrestled it out with the suspect who was pinned down and when Bagayas sensed the other suspect tried to fire his gun at him, he jumped and rolled over and ran away toward the Poblacion where the police station is located.

The suspects fired their guns aimed at the fleeing conductor but failed to hit him.

Sensing trouble, the two suspects immediately fled away from the crime scene thus their attempt to rob the passengers discontinued.

Bagayas said that at that time he sensed danger for his life, he was determined not to hand over his collection to the highway robbers. He recalled action scenes particularly hold-up-robberies from action films he watched. He admitted he is an action movie addict.