Bandits take P40K from bus passengers in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA City, Philippines - Lost command rebels disguised as passengers held up a passenger bus early Tuesday along the highway of Kabasalan town, Zamboanga Sibugay province.

Senior Inspector Rico Pondol, Kabasalan police chief, said the disguised bandits boarded the passengers bus of the Rural Tours when it made a brief stopover in Ipil town.

The bus, packed with 32 passengers with body number 972 and driven by Pablo Bahandi, was bound for Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.

Pondol said the bus was traversing towards Pagadian City and has just reached Barangay Simbol when the five bandits armed with hand guns declared the holdup at around 1:30 a.m.

He said three of the bandits divested the passengers of their cash and personal belongings while the other gunmen served as lookouts.

Pondol said that the bandits escaped with at least P40,000 cash during the heist.

Investigations are ongoing to identify the bandits, believed to be former members of a Moro rebel group.