Government forces secure Zamboanga highway

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  – Government forces have stepped up its security after lost command rebels ambushed Sunday night a passenger bus and private pick-up vehicle in an east coast village outside this city, according to police official here.

The police said the Rural Transit bus liner came from Pagadian City bound for the city proper was attacked at about 11 p.m. by undetermined number of gunmen at sitio Marang in Barangay Tagasilay. 

The police said an hour later, a pick-up vehicle traversing the same stretch in Barangay Tagasilay was also attacked believed to be by the same group of gunmen.

“Fortunately, no one was injured in both attacks,” according to acting city police director Senior Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo.

No one claimed responsibility in the ambush which was the third incident in three weeks within the same area. But authorities tagged the lost command group as behind the attack.

Police investigators suspected that extortion could be the motive of the ambush as the rebels have been demanding money from the bus companies plying the highways east of this city. 

De Ocampo said police and military forces have been deployed and conducted patrols to prevent continued attacks on motorists traversing the east coast highway. 

“The area is critical because our buses have been subjected to hijack and burning in previous cases, Jonald Tabben, Rural Transit bus dispatcher said.

Some of the bus drivers said apprehensions on their safety and the passengers have been growing, however, they have no choice as there is no other alternate route that links the city and provinces in Mindanao.