ZAMBOANGA CITY (Updated) -- Eight people, including a soldier, were injured when gunmen ambushed a passenger bus on the way to Pagadian City, Tuesday night.
Chief Superintendent Billy Beltran, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula director, said the incident occurred around 11:45 p.m. near the boundary of Barangays Buenavista and Muti.
Beltran identified the victims as Jaman Alam Suradi, 53, a soldier; Christopher Caigan Lumawan, 27; Ednalin Jaim Gella, 20; George Elnas, 32; Reniel Abong, 24; Lopes Teña Noel, 46; Jenevie Lopes Teńa, 36; and, John Baynosa, 36.
Beltran said the victim were aboard a passenger bus of the Rural Transit Management, Inc. (RTMI) traveling to Pagadian City coming from this city when five unidentified gunmen ambushed the vehicle.
Seledonio Sugabo, the driver of the bus with body number 9554, sped off to safety and sought assistance at a military detachment situated several hundred meters away from the place of the incident.
Beltran said troops manning the detachment rush to the ambush site but the suspects were gone when they reached the area.
He said the victims were taken to the hospital while another RTMI bus fetched the other passengers to their destination.
He said investigation continues to identify the suspects behind the incident. (SunStar Philippines)
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