Robbers hijack bus, 4 civilians dead

Philippine police today say, robbers, not communist rebels, are responsible for seizing a passenger bus and engaging security forces in a highway chase and gun battle that killed four civilians.

Philippine police say robbers, not communist rebels, are responsible for seizing a passenger bus and engaging security forces in a highway chase and that killed four civilians.

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The army initially blamed communist rebels for the shootout Wednesday east of Manila. However, Quezon provincial Police Chief Eric Velasquez said Thursday,l "an investigation showed three robbers seized the bus as a getaway vehicle and fired on police and army troops chasing them."

He says the bus conductor, one male, and two female passengers were killed after the driver slammed the bus into a tree. Velasquez says two suspects are in custody and one escaped.