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ZAMBOANGA CITY: Unidentified gunmen opened fire Sunday on a commuter
bus in Lanao del Norte killing its driver and wounding several
passengers, police and military said.
Policemen, backed by soldiers, were pursuing the
gunmen in the town of Kauswagan where the attack occurred. “At
least 10 gunmen were involved in the attack and there is a pursuit
operation going on,” Senior Supt. Linog Bagul, the provincial
police chief, told The Manila Times.
He said the bus driver was killed and several
more were injured in the attack on a village called Kawit Oriental.
Bagul said the armed men opened fire on the bus
after it ignored warnings to stop. “The driver must have sensed
the armed men were bandits,” he said.
He said policemen, who responded to the
shootings, chased and briefly battled with the gunmen while another
group secured the passengers. There were no reports of casualties
either from the police or the attackers.
Bagul said the bus was on its way to Zamboanga
City when attacked. It was unknown as to what group was responsible
for the shootings, but bandits and rebels are actively operating in
the province.
Army Brig. Gen. Hilario Atendido, commander of
the military’s Task Force Lanao, said three passengers were
wounded in the attack. “Our troops are pursuing the bandits,” he
said.
-- Al Jacinto
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