By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Three unidentified men held up a Ceres bus plying the Bacolod City-Escalante City route along the national highway in Bangga Ibus, Barangay Tortosa in Manapla, Sunday evening.
Reports released by the Manapla Municipal Police Station said the bus driver, identified as 48-year-old Glecerio Gao, Jr., said he was traversing the road towards Escalante City when three unidentified men boarded at Silay City.
Upon reaching Barangay Tortosa, the suspects, armed with two unknown caliber of firearms and one bladed weapon, declared a hold-up.
The suspects forced conductor Narvin Tapang to yield his P2,000 worth of fare collection and P500 in cash.
The armed robbers then turned their attention to the passengers and took their mobile phones, electronic gadgets, and P4,300 in cash.
The three eventually disembarked the bus and fled in an unknown direction.
A follow-up operation conducted by Manapla police later resulted in the arrest of the two suspects, however, they refused to name them pending further investigation.
The two, meanwhile, denied robbing the bus and claimed they tried to pursue the suspects upon witnessing the incident./WDJ