Mindanao bus firms, police draw up security plan

DAVAO CITY – Bus operators from all over Mindanao and police authorities jointly drew up a transport security plan during the first-ever island-wide summit here yesterday.

The summit, initiated by the Office for the Presidential Assistant on Transport Affairs, was called purposely to find ways to tighten security for passenger buses plying different routes across Mindanao following the spate of bombings targeting them.

Explosions recently ripped through several units of the Weena and Yellow bus companies in South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Cotabato City and Davao del Sur.

The bombings, mostly blamed on extortion gangs such as the Al-Khobar, claimed the lives of dozens of people and injured hundreds of other innocent civilians.

Bus operators in Southern Mindanao earlier sought the help of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who, in turn, initiated meetings with local government officials in Southern Mindanao to draw up security measures to avert the bombings.

Duterte urged the bus operators to invest in their security by hiring more security personnel and buying the necessary security equipment.

“The bus operators should not expect the government to do all what is necessary. They must also do their share,” he said.