CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Authorities have launched a manhunt for a bao-bao (motorized tricycle) driver and his alleged accomplice following a violent assault on passengers in Zone 11, Upper Carmen, after the victims refused to ride their vehicle due to a fare dispute.
According to initial police reports and witness accounts, the incident stemmed from a disagreement over fare. The victims claimed they were being charged ₱50 each by the bao-bao driver, prompting them to decline and instead board a modernized public utility bus.
However, the situation escalated when the driver reportedly took offense at the passengers’ decision.
Witnesses said the suspects trailed the victims and later attacked them inside the bus they had boarded. The sudden assault caused panic among passengers, with some left shaken by the brazen act of violence carried out in a public transport vehicle.
Adding to the gravity of the incident, a witness revealed that after initially fleeing the scene, the bao-bao driver returned and resumed the assault before finally escaping toward an unknown direction with his companion.
Police responded to the scene but the suspects had already fled upon their arrival.
The victims sustained injuries, although authorities have yet to release full details regarding their condition. Investigators are also looking into reports that a heated argument preceded the physical attack.
The Police Regional Office 10 has since intensified its operations, coordinating with various police stations and checkpoints across the city to track down the suspects.
Authorities condemned the attack, emphasizing that acts of violence—especially those committed in public transport—pose serious threats to commuter safety and will not be tolerated.
The incident has sparked concern among residents and commuters in the area, with many calling for stricter monitoring of public utility drivers and stronger enforcement of fare regulations to prevent similar incidents.
Police are urging anyone with information about the identity or whereabouts of the suspects to immediately report to the nearest police station.