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01/28/2012
Communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels on Thursday night burned down a passenger bus in Legaspi City, belated military reports said yesterday.
Army spokesman Maj. Harold Cabunoc, quoting reports from the field, said that a Manila-bound Silver Star bus, originated from Bulan town, Sorsogon, was torched down by suspected NPA rebels in a remote area in Barangay Cagbacong, Legaspi City around 7:30 p.m.
“Eyewitnesses claimed the suspects posing as passengers, boarded the bus at a stopover terminal in Sorsogon City. Upon reaching the area between barangays Cumadcad and Sogoy in Castilla town, the armed men drew their pistols and introduced themselves as NPA rebels,” Cabunoc said.
Immediately, the NPA rebels commandeered the bus toward Barangay Cagbacong, an interior village of Legaspi City where three more rebels with long firearms were waiting.
The passengers were then forcibly herded out of the bus before the NPA rebels poured gasoline on it and put it ablaze.
“The passengers fled the scene and made it back to the national highway and reported the incident to the police,” Cabunoc said.
Army 903rd Brigade commander Col. Felix Castor Jr. expressed belief that extortion prompted the attack.
“Extortion is the primary motive in this burning incident. The people have denounced this atrocity wherein the NPA rebels have terrorized not just the business owners but also the innocent passengers,” Castor said.
Castor said that coordination have been made with the local police to track down the rebels
In Zambales, elements of the Army’s 24th Infantry Battalion (IB) clash with NPA rebels in Barangay Sta. Rita, Masinloc town around 10:30 a.m. yesterday.
Army 7th Infantry Division (ID) spokesman Maj. Enrico Ileto said that a platoon of soldiers were sent to the area after receiving reports from concerned civilians about the extortion activities of the NPA.
Ileto said the Army troops managed to overrun a satellite camp established by the NPA rebels. There were reported casualty from both sides.
Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr., commanding general of the 7th ID, said the incident has nothing to do with the upcoming Feb. 4 special elections in the second district of Zambales. The congressional post was vacated following the death last year of Rep. Antonio Diaz.
“This is a non election-related violent incident where our troops overran a satellite makeshift camp at the encounter site with 12 tents,” Mabanta said.
“There are no reported casualty on the government side. Personal belongings were left by the rebels and I have instructed troops on the ground to continue with its pursuit operations,” Mabanta added.