More anomalies unearthed in Benguet bus tragedy probe

BAGUIO CITY , Philippines -  – The government is uncovering more irregularities in the public transport system in the country aside from the unchecked “kabit system.”

Transportation and Communications regional director Federico Mandapat said their most recent find is – “Eso-Nice’s road worthiness certification was fake.” 

Looking deeper, Mandapat said, the official who supposedly issued the certification denied issuing such to the beleaguered firm.   

“This will be used against them in the administrative proceedings,” Mandapat, a veteran lawyer said.  

This, aside from an earlier discovery that Eso-Nice’s supposedly only “four-bus franchise” turned out it has 30 buses that includes the ill-fated number 801 bus that plunged into a 30-meter ravine killing 42 passengers on Aug. 19. 

Obviously, beyond the four buses that authorities earlier saw in its original franchise, those beyond it were part of the “kabit system.” 

These will become part of the evidences they will be submitting to the Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) central office, Mandapat said after the hearing at the LTFRB-Cordillera Monday afternoon, admitting, they cannot act with finality but only gather evidences because Eso-Nice’s franchise has an inter-regional route. 

Justice

Mandapat said the firm’s franchise issued on Sept. 24, 1998 has a registered route from Baguio to Sta Catalina, Ilocos Sur. “Being an inter-regional route, it cannot be cancelled by LTFRB-Cordillera but the central office.” 

Mandapat vowed justice will be soon for the victims, though still grieving Alfredo, son of victim Rose Alangdeo vented his ire during Monday’s hearing that until now Eso-Nice has not visited them for assistance. “We have been expecting help from Eso-Nice, but it never came,” he chuckled during the emotional-packed hearing attended by at least seven representatives of the 42 families victimized in the tragedy.

Lawyer Rosendo Meneses representing Eso-Nice while insisting it was an accident, hence it was a “fortuitous event,” argued they prioritized those hospitalized. He begged off and instead asked the contact numbers of the relatives.

Part of the evidences DOTC-CAR are gathering affidavits of supposed relatives on conversations with the fatalities before the tragedy, pointing to the fact that brakes began to fail minutes after taking off from the Baguio terminal but the driver insisted to continue the trip.

Earlier, driver Romeo Subang was criminally indicted by Benguet prosecutor Benedict Pataras for reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide, multiple injuries and damage to property.