Passenger bus set on fire in southern Philippines, 3 dead

Police on Friday reported that three people were killed when a passenger bus was set on fire in the southern Philippines.

Police also reported that six passengers were also wounded in the burning of the bus in M’lang town in Cotabato province, some 950 kilometres south of Manila.

Investigators said three male suspects set the bus on fire using “a highly combustible liquid substance” along the national highway.

The report said the three fatalities were two women aged 28 and 30 years and a man aged 18.

It added that the other passengers escaped by climbing out of a window at the back of the bus.

Police said investigators were looking at extortion as the possible motive for the attack, noting that the bus company had received demands from criminal groups in the town.