Driver, passenger killed as motorcycle-riding men fire shots at bus in North Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato – A bus driver and a passenger were killed when motorcycle-riding men shot at a bus that was was traversing the national highway in the town of Pikit in North COtabato on Monday afternoon.

Superintendent Bernard Tayong, spokesperson of the North Cotabato Police Office, identified the victims as bus driver Ticson Tigas of Datu Montawal, Maguindanao, and passenger Magdalena Cabaya of Midsayap Cotabato.

Another passenger, Mohammad Piling of Pikit town was wounded.

Tayong said the 3:30 p.m. attack happened in front of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) office in Barangay Batulawan, some 2.5 kilometers away from the town center.

Tayong said an initial report showed that the gunmen were tailing the bus while it was travelling to Cotabato City.

The unidentified gunmen wore bull caps and used a motorcycle that did not have a license plate, Tayong said.

Police still could not say the motive of the killing.  –Williamor A. Magbanua, SFM