AN OFFICIAL of the Rural Transit Management Inc. (RTMI) on Wednesday, February 15, announced they did not receive threat from any lawless group in the region.

RTMI-Zamboanga Area Manager Efren dela Cruz issued the statement after eight passengers of RTMI bus were wounded in an ambush in Zamboanga City.

The police reported the incident occurred around 11:45 p.m. Tuesday in the village of Buenavista, this city.

The RTMI bus was travelling to Pagadian City coming from Zamboanga City when five unidentified gunmen ambushed the vehicle.

Seledonio Sugabo, the driver of the bus, sped off to safety and sought assistance at a military detachment situated several hundred meters away from the place of the incident.

“We were surprised over the incident,” Dela Cruz said citing they did not received threat even through letter or text message.

Despite the incident, Dela Cruz said there will be no change in the schedule of trips of the RTMI buses coming from this city to the nearby provinces.

The RTMI buses ply the routes coming from this city to Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Iligan, Ozamis and Cagayan de Oro cities.

Dela Cruz said they have adopted measures to avoid a similar incident in the future.