Mindanao Star bus driver, lady passenger killed in North Cotabato ambush

PIKIT, North Cotabato -- Three men riding tandem on a motorbike shot dead Monday a passenger bus driver and a passenger along a national highway here, police said.A retired soldier, sitting behind the bus driver,and a male passenger,also injured.The Pikit Police office said killed were Mindanao Start (MWB-935) driverTicson L. Tigas, 33, resident ofSitio Daniel, Barangay Galakit, Pagalungan, Maguindanao and passengerMagdalena Chavez Cabaya, 43 of Midsayap, North Cotabato. sand//scontent-hkg3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12794416_10205841886745646_4108620360688392604_n.jpg?oh=f28800cefad2a4ae7871e2e619a2825fandampoe=5792B024 Injured was Mohammad Piling, an ex-Army, and an unidentified passenger who sustained minor injury, as listed by the police. Several other passengers were also hurt after the bus slammed on a dump truck in front of following the shooting.Tigas died on the spot while Cabaya was declared dead on arrival at the Cruzado hospital.Supt. Bernard Tayong, speaking for North Cotabato police, said the incident occurred at about 3 p.m. while the bus was traveling to Cotabato City.Tayong said the suspects shot the bus driver using cal. 45 pistol. Several empty shells were recovered at the crime scene, particularly in front of National Irrigation Administration (NIA) office in Barangay Batulawan.The crime scene was about 800 meters away from two Army and para-military detachments.Following the incident, the suspects sped away toward the interior portion of Batulawan. sand//scontent-hkg3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/l/t1.0-9/12803170_10205841882945551_8799433740738226244_n.jpg?oh=fb502a09e615b17fbc2ee6e2d7e63dcfandampoe=5755BE06