Army helps PNP vs. arson attacks on bus companies

STO NINO, South Cotabato -- The Army's 27th Infantry Division has deployed military patrol vehicles along major highways in South Cotabato to thwart arson cases by suspected New Peoples Army against bus companies, an Army spokesperson today said. Captain Marvin Gammad, chief of 27th IB civil-militry operations (CMO), said the move was in partnership with the Philippine National Police following the burning of Yellow Bus Line (YBL) unit in Barangay Poblacion here on Tuesday night. Five men who introduced themselves as NPA torched a unit of YBL (body number 7225) at about 7 p.m., the fourth bus attacked by armed men in Region 12 since Nov. 13. Two YBL buses were earlier torched by armed men in Tupi, South Cotabato and Kiamba, Sarangani on Nov. 13 and Nov. 27, respectively. Two days later, armed men claiming to be NPA tried, but failed, to burn a Husky bus in Tantangan, South Cotabato. The bus was from Tacurong City, where the suspects boarded, heading to Korondal City. Gammad said in Sto Nino arson incident, two suspects boarded the bus in Isulan town in Sultan Kudarat. Upon reaching the Sto Nino bus station, three more men boarded the bus. After it left the terminal or about five minutes later, two men asked the driver to pull over so they can disembark. As soon as the two jumped off the bus, three others quickly boarded the bus and told the driver to divert the unit toward a dirt road where more armed men with gasoline and lighters met them. They have the same modus operandi, they did not harm anyone, driver, conductor or passenger, Senior Supt. Franklin Alvero, South Cotabato police director, said. They were all after the bus. Alvero said investigators are looking at extortion and business rivalry as among possible motives. Capt. Gammad said in prevent similar incident in the future, especially during the holidays and rush hours, military vehicles will patrol the bus routes, escort them if necessary and ensure no more arson cases will take place. A police officer has suggested that plain clothes cops or soldiers will board the bus to conduct inspection while the vehicle was in transit to determine if any of the passengers are armed. It was an unsolicited advise as the police officer was speaking on condition of anonymity for lack of authority to speak. The YBL, one of the four bus firms operating in South Cotabato, has not issued any statement on the incident. Other bus firms plying the South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Gen. Santos City routes include Rural Transit, Husky bus company and Mindanao Star bus firm.