Bus driver charged for injury of 13 people

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Prosecutor’s Office has filed criminal charges before the Regional Trial Court against a bus driver who figured in a traffic accident in Naga on October 17 that resulted to injuries of at least 13 people.

Prosecutor Napoleon Alburo found probable cause to elevate to court the case against Genaro Gesim Jr., driver of the Sunrays bus bearing plate numbers GWW-509, for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple physical injuries.

Alburo said he gave Gesim an opportunity to execute controverting evidence but the latter opted not to submit any which led him to forward the case to court.

He said that Gesim’s negligence, not obeying the traffic laws, rules and regulations and without taking extraordinary care led to an accident resulting to injury of 13 persons injured including minors.

The victims were Apple Requinto, 14; Jesus Requinto, 20; Loida Batino, 42; Onaiz Batino, 17; Aldene Jay Batino, 17; Alberto Cabrera, 20; Dhalia Bayabos, 44; Jocelyn Algoso, 33; Joben Gutierez Malinao, 31; Reil Villasencio, 21; Pedro Repunte, 53 and D’Artagnan Dolino, 70.

One of those who witnessed the incident, Jesus Requito Jr, a resident of Tuyan, Naga, and a driver of passenger multicab, at around 6:45 a.m., he was driving his vehicle coming from Poblacion, Naga bound for Pardo in Cebu City. He added upon reaching Barangay, he stopped his vehicle to pick-up passengers.

Suddenly, Requito added he saw in the side mirror of his vehicle a speeding passenger bus bumped the Lite Ace vehicle driven by Malinao and due to the impact the Lite Ace also hit a multicab, causing it to turn upside and then hit a Suzuki Jitney driven by Tommy Espadilla and another passenger Suzuki Jitney driven by Rogelio Manacap.

Traffic investigators said all the involved vehicles are traveling from the south towards Cebu City.

Upon receiving a report on the accident, police officers from Naga Police Station immediately responded to the area.

All the injured persons were rushed to the hospital for treatment while the bus driver was brought to the police station for detention and filing of charges. (THE FREEMAN)