Gunmen kill 3 inside a bus before setting it on fire in southern Philippines

Gunmen kill 3 inside a bus before setting it on fire in southern Philippines

2011-04-08 01:39:52 GMT+7 (ICT)

ZAMBOANGA, PHILIPPINES (BNO NEWS) -- A group of gunmen on Thursday killed three people inside a passenger bus and then set it on fire in Mindanao Island, southern Philippines.

According to the local Inquirer newspaper, at least four gunmen attacked a bus traveling on a highway in Zamboanga Sibugay town. After a while, they shot at four people, killing three and wounding one.

Col. Santiago Baluyot, an Army commander, informed that at about 8:00 p.m. local time a Rural Transit bus that departed from Pagadian city was flagged down by gunmen in Upper Tungawan village.

The armed criminals said they were robbing the bus, declared a holdup and then opened fire at four victims. The gunmen then set the bus on fire leaving the bodies on the inside. The victims were identified as an Army officer, his wife and an undercover agent.

Another undercover Marshal was injured and a woman was missing after the attack. According to investigators, gunmen killed Marshal Lito de la Cruz first and then turned to Army Major Julistidi Arasid and his wife.

Maj. Arasid was not wearing his uniform as he was heading to his son's graduation. Before being assassinated he managed to shield his son from the gunshots and allowing him to escape the bus.

Marshal Federico Luchavez was able to respond the gunfire but was shot and is in critical condition. A female passenger, identified as Sitti Aliya Jundam, was missing after the attack.

The latest attack on a Rural Transit bus took place in March when armed men ambushed the vehicle and injured two persons in Zamboanga. In September 2010, six armed men flagged down another bus in Davao and killed a policeman.

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