Police identified the victims as Ravellyn Jian Borja, 7, a Grade 1 student, and Tajinderdeep Gill, 5, a kindergarten student.
Borja was rushed to the University of Sto. Tomas Hospital while Gill was taken to the Infant Jesus Hospital. Both sustained second degree burns in the face, arms and back, according to the doctors.
Investigation conducted by SPO2 Jessie Oliveroz showed that at about 11 a.m., a schoolbus with seven children on board was on its way to UST when it was caught in traffic at the corner of Dapitan and Ibarra streets in Sampaloc.
Oliveroz said a Fariñas Transit bus, which came all the way from Laoag, Ilocos Norte, developed engine trouble due to an overheated radiator and stopped beside the schoolbus.
The bus conductor identified as Dexter Balanga, 22, of Laoag, Ilocos Norte, alighted from the bus, went to the rear of the vehicle and opened the cover of the radiator. Boiling water from the radiator suddenly spurted and hit the two children who were seated at the rear of the schoolbus. Cries from the injured children caused the bus driver and conductor to flee the scene, according to Oliveroz.
The two victims were rushed to different hospitals on board pedicabs by the schoolchildren’s caretaker identified as Elena Peralta. The other schoolchildren were unhurt.
Police later arrested Balanga at the Fariñas Transit bus terminal but the driver identified only as a certain "Bornido" reportedly escaped to his home province in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte.
Oliveroz said charges of reckless imprudence resulting to serious physical injuries are now being readied against the bus conductor and the driver. – Nestor Etolle