Communists torch bus ahead of cease-fire

Communists torch bus ahead of cease-fire

PHILIPPINES: Communist guerrillas on Tuesday commandeered a passenger bus and set it on fire near the central city of Cebu , two days after they declared a month-long Christmas cease-fire, police said.

Three New People's Army (NPA) members on board the bus whipped out pistols and ordered the driver to stop the vehicle beside a forested portion of the highway near the town of Catmon, said regional police chief Avelino Razon.

More armed guerrillas emerged from the trees and ordered the passengers and the driver to get off before they poured gasoline on the vehicle and set it on fire, he added. No one was hurt in the attack.

One of the passengers, Gilbert Sanchez, told police a woman among the armed men apologized to the passengers, telling them the action was punishment for the bus company's failure to pay "revolutionary tax". --AFP