Drivers dead as 9 men torch 2 buses

March 5th, 2011

By Joey A. Gabieta
Inquirer Visayas
First Posted 17:13:00 03/05/2011

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines—Two drivers were torched to death inside a bus in Almeria, Biliran early Saturday.

Police later arrested two men who were suspected to be part of the group that poured gasoline on Arnel Montano and Edwin Bargola while they were sleeping inside a bus owned by Silver Star Bus Liner about 1 a.m. in Barangay (village) Talahid, about 5 km from the town proper.

The perpetrators also torched another bus of Silver Star Bus Liner that was parked alongside the one where the victims slept, police said.

Montano, 43, a resident of Mondragon, Northern Samar, and Bargola, 47, a native of Sorsogon City, were burned beyond recognition.

Inspector Edwin Cura, police chief of Almeria, said police have yet to determine the motive for the attack.

Police said the two drivers were sleeping inside the Silver Star Bus when nine men went inside, poured gasoline on them and set them on fire.

They then torched the other bus before escaping on three motorcycles.

Two men on a motorcycle were later arrested at a police checkpoint on the Biliran Bridge about 7 a.m. Saturday. Their motorcycle had no license plates and the two gave conflicting statements as to where they had come from and where they were going.

The two were identified as Jessie Oledan and Teodoro Macalalag, said Cura.

The two were brought to police for questioning.

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Tags: Almeria, biliran island, Bus, JOEY A. GABIETA, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Silver Star Bus Liner, Talahid

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