Suspected NPA gunmen set fire to a passenger bus in Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY - Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels set fire to a passenger bus owned by the Yellow Bus Company (YBL)  in Makilala, Cotabato on Monday.

The bus, which came from Tacurong City and was on its way to Davao City, was flagged down by six armed men along the national highway.

According to bus driver Victor Serondo, the gunmen then boarded the bus and introduced themselves as NPA fighters.

They then directed  Serondo to drive towards Sitio Bagong Silang in Barangay San Vicente.

The passengers and driver were then directed to exit the vehicle, after which the gunmen poured gasoline on the bus and set fire to it.

The local police force and Bureau of Fire Protection firefighters responded to the incident, but they came too late to stop the blaze.

Police investigators are looking into the incident, while joint police and military checkpoints have been setup along the Makilala highway. — DVM, GMA News