Bus from Pagadian strafed, 2 hurt

Unidentified armed men shot at a passenger bus bound for Zamboanga City as it was traveling along the highway of Sitio Marangan, Barangay Muti, east of Zamboanga City at about 1 a.m. Thursday.

Police said the Rural Bus with body number 9292 had come from Pagadian City and was cruising along the highway when bullets coming from both directions rained on it.

Bus conductor Kliep Sorela said he was dozing off when he was awakened by gunfire.

Bus driver Rolando Castillo said he stepped on the accelerator even after bullets hit three of their tires. He later said he could not see who was shooting at them.

"Tuloy-tuloy lang ang takbo ko, concentrate ako sa trabaho ko, hanggang makalayo kami sa lugar na pinagdisgrasyahan namin," he said in Visayan dialect.

Mildred Bongcawi was seated beside the driver. As the ambush happened, she dropped on the floor, covering her 2-year-old grandson.

She was injured by shrapnel that hit her back and arms.

"Sabi ng pamangkin ko na nakakita sa mga nag-ambush, marami sila at lahat nakasuot ng uniporme ng sundalo," Bongcawi said.

A truck passing by the area at that time was also hit by stray bullets. The truck driver, Roger Fuentes, was hurt on his left leg.

The police recovered 27 empty shells of M16 rifle from the ambush site. The authorities would still not say who the possible perpetrators are and their possible motive. (report from Queenie Casimiro, ABS-CBN News Zamboanga)