Al-Khobar prey fields buses anew

KORONADAL CITY – The controversial Yellow Bus Line (YBL) Co., whose buses have been the victims of recent bombing attacks, resumes its operations today after getting assurance from the police on the security of its passengers from the Al-Khobar extortion gang.

YBL temporarily suspended its operations a day after explosions ripped through two of its buses in its terminal here last Aug. 3. A Christian preacher was killed and 12 others were wounded in the blasts.

YBL made the move upon orders of the city council presided over by Vice Mayor Vicente de Jesus, and the South Cotabato police headed by Senior Superintendent Robert Kiunisala, for fear that another bomb attack might occur.

Police blamed Al-Khobar for the Aug. 3 bomb attacks against YBL, which had rejected its demand for monthly “protection money.”

Al-Khobar, suspected to be an extortion arm of the Indonesian terror group Jemaah Islamiyah and of having links with the extremist Abu Sayyaf, had been demanding P500,000 from YBL monthly supposedly to fund their cause.

Olimpio Par, YBL operations officer, said the police and the city council lifted their order to the company to temporarily suspend its operations after assessing the security measures it has put in place in its terminal here.

“We will implement airport-like security measures. We also made some revisions in our terminal by constructing structures designed to really secure and protect our clients,” Par told The STAR in a phone interview.

Par said everything is set for today’s resumption of operations, adding that they are “prepared to go back in business after seven days of rest.”

Asked on the warning of Al-Khobar that it would mount more attacks if its demands are still ignored, Par said, “Bahala na ang police at military natin sa kanila (Our police and military would take care of them).”

He said “neutralizing” the Al-Khobar gang is beyond his company’s business. “We are focusing on the safety of our passengers,” he said.

Besides implementing airport-like security measures in its terminal, the YBL management also oriented its 600 dispatchers, drivers and conductors on public safety and anti-terrorism with the help of police explosive experts.