Number of bus mishap victims rises to 54

Pagbilao, Quezon, Philippines  – The number of people injured in a bus tragedy in Pagbilao, Quezon last Sunday rose to 54, authorities said.

Calabarzon regional director Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome also identified yesterday the five fatalities in the bus accident as Milagros Lerios Eguia, 63; Jesusa Venus, 35; Teresita Torillas, 50; Dea Aplan and Arnel Daang, 23.

In a phone interview, Bartolome said criminal charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and multiple injuries have been filed against CUL bus driver, Oscar Yadawon Pedrigosa, at the Pagbilao prosecutor’s offfice.

Bartolome said he had instructed the provincial director of the Quezon police to coordinate with the Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) about possible sanctions against the CUL bus.

He said the franchise of the CUL bus (TWV-912) expired on March 22, 2009 and its Certificate of Public Conveyance has also expired on Feb. 28, 2010.

Those injured in the bus tragedy come from various places including Bulacan, Rizal, Tarlac, Quezon City, Parañaque, Leyte, Malabon, Navotas, Laguna and Quezon.

Pedrigosa, 36, married, and a resident of Navotas, Metro Manila, is among those wounded.

The CUL bus was cruising the zigzag road in Barangay Silangang Malicboy when it plunged into a ravine at around 2:45 p.m.

Poice said the bus had come from Tacloban City in Leyte and was on its way to Cubao, Quezon City when it met the accident.

Some of the victims were rushed to the Jane Country Hospital and the Quezon Medical Center in Lucena City.

Police Senior Superintendent Ericson Velasquez said vehicular accidents often occur in the said zigzag road during the rainy season, warning drivers to be extra careful when cruising this area.

In related developments, the entire fleet of the bus company whose vehicle got involved in the recent deadly accident in Pagbilao, Quezon will face suspension of franchise apart from investigation by the government.

Dante Lantin, chairman of the LTFRB, said they will issue the suspension order to CUL bus transport today.

In an interview, Lantin said the suspension will last 30 days to cover the investigation to be done by the LTFRB. The drivers of the company will also undergo drug tests as the bus units will be subjected to road worthiness tests.

According to Lantin, the franchise of the bus that got involved in the Quezon accident covers nine other vehicles.

But the agency decided to issue a suspension order to all the 60 units being operated by the bus company following reports that a number of its vehicles are allegedly already old, Lantin said.

The LTFRB chief said the victims of the accident will all be covered by the insurance provider of the company.

He said each of the families of those who died in the accident will receive P60,000. Those who were injured will receive P12,500 to cover their hospitalization expenses. Amounts that will go beyond this will be covered by the bus company.  – With Reinir Padua