GMA orders DOTC to probe Quezon bus mishap

President Arroyo has ordered a probe into Sunday’s bus accident that killed 33 people in Quezon.

She directed Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza yesterday to investigate why a Falcon Bus Liner bound for Masbate fell into a ravine as it traversed the highway in Tagkawayan, Quezon, killing 33 people, including the driver, and injuring six others.

Mrs. Arroyo has asked transport officials to bring anyone responsible to justice, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said on radio.

"First of all, the President condoles with families and relatives of those who were killed in this bus accident. We were greatly saddened by this incident," Bunye said.

Initial investigation showed the bus came from Cubao, Quezon City bound for Masbate when its driver lost control of the wheels because of a mechanical failure.

Meanwhile, Chairman Dante Lantin of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said the Falcon Bus Liner was operating "out of line" when the accident occurred as it was not authorized to ply the Cubao, Quezon City-Masbate route.

"Why the bus came from Manila is something that has to be explained," Lantin said.

The bus has a franchise to serve the Sta. Elena (Camarines Norte)-Gubat (Sorsogon) line, he added.

Lantin said the LTFRB will suspend Falcon’s franchise "as a matter of policy" and that management would be made to "explain the accident" during a series of hearings in Legazpi City beginning Friday.

The hearings will be held in Legazpi City for the convenience of surviving passengers and the families of those who perished, he added.

Lantin said each passenger is entitled to P50,000 in insurance benefits, although the bus was "out of line" when it fell off the road in Tagkawayan.

"We’ll see to it that the passengers would be properly compensated,"’ he said. "We’ll closely monitor this case."

Speaking over Radyo ng Bayan, Bunye said Mrs. Arroyo has instructed Mendoza to find out whether the management of Falcon Bus Liner is liable for the accident.

"Of course, the DOTC which has jurisdiction over the LTFRB and the LTO, they would be conducting a thorough investigation of this accident so that we will know the causes and with an end in view, although we cannot bring back those who were killed, but the important thing is we prevent a similar accident to occur in the future," he said.

The investigation aims to give justice to passengers who died and those who were injured the accident, Bunye added.

For his part, Mendoza ordered Lantin to find out, among other things, the exact cause of the accident and if the bus was operating legally.

"There are conflicting news reports that the bus lost its brakes or the driver fell asleep causing the bus to plunge into the ravine. I want the LTFRB to determine the real cause of the incident," Mendoza said in a statement.

He also directed the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the DOTC Action Center to apprehend and impound Falcon buses that are found operating out of line and conduct roadworthiness inspections on these buses.

On the other hand, Transportation Assistant Secretary Roberto Lastimoso, LTO chief, said his agency will look into the third-party liability insurance due the passengers, while the LTFRB will work on the comprehensive insurance.

In an interview on radio station dzMM, Lastimoso said the DOTC is set to implement the P8.6-billion project to computerize the testing of motor vehicles nationwide before they could be registered with the LTO.

"Road worthiness of all motor vehicles to check on brakes, headlights, wheel steering, wheel alignment and all those things," he said.

"But the problem is we’re still inviting proponents to this expanded motor vehicle inspection system. We will put up adequate systems all over the country so that all motor vehicle being registered should go through first in this computerized machines to test road worthiness of all vehicles."

The DOTC has already issued invitation to bid for the project, Lastimoso added. – Marichu Villanueva, Sheila Crisostomo, AFP