No text or call from bus firm – victim’s kin

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – The wife and relatives of 32-year-old Giovanni Paolo Morillo, the creative department head of Solar News TV who was among those killed in the Bontoc, Mt. Province road accident, yesterday belied claims by the officials of Florida Bus Line that they facilitated and shouldered the hospitalization and transport expenses of the victims.

Morillo’s wife Liezel said it was Solar that fetched her husband’s body from Bontoc and transported it by plane to this city.

“We did not receive a single text or call from the company after the accident took place,” Mrs. Morillo told The STAR at the St. Peter’s funeral parlor here.

She said that until yesterday, they were still waiting for a call from the bus firm for any help it could offer.

“Of course, we will join the class suit that would be filed by the victims’ families so that justice would be served,” she said.

Morillo’s uncle Lito Vasquez said their family is inclined to “pursue legal action” against the bus company.

Mrs. Morillo recalled that at around 2 a.m., or hours before the bus plunged into a ravine last Friday, her husband still managed to text her that he had seen a store selling strawberry jam.

She said her husband joined the group of Arvin “Tado” Jimenez to shoot a documentary on the life of a famous tattoo artist in Bontoc town. Jimenez was also among the 14 fatalities.