Suspension of transport firm’s buses hailed

MANILA, Philippines - The family of Rene and Fortune Ledesma, honorary consuls of Bulgaria and Monaco, lauded the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for suspending 20 units of the First North Luzon Transit Inc. (FNLT). 

STAR columnist RJ Ledesma, spokesman for the family, yesterday said the LTFRB’s decision made them more determined to pursue the cancellation of FNLT’s franchise. 

He said they would push for the cancellation unless the company retrains its drivers and checks the quality of its buses, shoulders the medical needs of victims of mishaps involving its buses and reforms the structure of its claims settlement.

The suspension of 20 FNLT buses came a month after one of its vehicles hit a van carrying the Ledesma family along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) near Apalit, Pampanga. 

RJ said on the day of the accident, the family did not receive any medical assistance or comforting words from the company.

“Up to today FNLT and their lawyers have not contacted my family or my lawyers, either to offer financial assistance or apologize for the incident,” he said.

RJ said two weeks after the accident, another FNLT bus hit a steel post in Hermosa, Bataan and left seven persons injured.

“This puts into question the quality of drivers and buses of FNLT,” he said. 

The LTFRB has ordered the Ledesmas and the FNLT to submit on March 19 their comments to an appeal seeking the cancellation of FNLT franchise.