That was what befell three policemen and two soldiers who traded gunshots all because of a bad stare inside a Butuan City-bound passenger bus in Surigao del Norte Thursday afternoon.
The fatalities were identified as Privates First Class Ronel Aniana and Frederick Rey Casas, both of the Army’s 20th Infantry Brigade based in Samar; and PO1s Joel Alfanta, Emmanuel Casino and Riol Bungolto, all assigned to the police Regional Mobile Group in Surigao del Norte.
Inspector Rudy Landig, police chief of Tubod, Surigao del Norte, said gunshots were heard from the back of the Bachelor Express bus, where the two groups were seated, upon reaching the boundary of Barangays Buyongan and Timamana in Placer and Tubod towns, respectively. The bus had come from Surigao City.
It was not known who pulled the trigger first. The shootout, which erupted just a few minutes after the three lawmen had boarded the fully loaded bus, sent the passengers scampering for safety.
No one among the passengers was hit by stray bullets, although a few suffered bruises and sought treatment in nearby hospitals and clinics.
Reports said Aniana and Casas were on their way to Cotabato and Davao to spend New Year’s Eve with their families when the tragedy happened.
On the other hand, the three slain policemen had been ordered to report to the Caraga police command at Camp Rafael Rodriguez in Libertad, Butuan City.
Police probers found empty caliber .45 shells inside the bus.
Chief Superintendent Rene Jamolod Elumbaring, Caraga police director, has ordered a deeper probe of the incident.
Brig. Gen. Cardozo Luna, commander of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, has likewise ordered an investigation. — With Lino de la Cruz and Cecille Suerte Felipe