By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz
MANILA – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) suspended a bus company following a road crash that involved two of its buses in Tuba, Benguet over the weekend.
In a statement on Monday, LTFRB Chair Vigor Mendoza II ordered Victory Liner, Inc. – the owner and operator of the two buses – to explain why its franchise should not be suspended or revoked over the incident.
“We already secured a police report of the incident, but we will be giving them the opportunity to explain. They were already issued with a show-cause order, and we in the LTFRB expect full compliance,” Mendoza said.
To date, 26 buses of Victory Liner have been suspended pending the result of the LTFRB’s investigation.
According to the police report, a Victory Liner bus was heading to La Union behind a sports utility vehicle (SUV) when it suffered mechanical problems while traversing an uphill road on May 30.
As a result, it hit another Victory Liner bus in the opposite lane and the SUV before it hit a concrete barrier and overturned.
Some 90 people were reported injured in the incident, with many immediately discharged after suffering minor injuries, while others remain in the hospital.
“I have already directed our LTFRB Regional Office to check on the condition of the injured passengers and to make sure that their medical needs are properly and immediately responded to,” he said.
The LTFRB is also coordinating with Victory Liner and their insurance provider to ensure the timely release of insurance payout to those affected.
Bus operator suspended in fatal QC road crash
In a separate statement, Mendoza also summoned the operator of a passenger bus that figured in a road crash in Quezon City that killed a senior citizen and injured 21 other passengers.
In a police report, the crash happened after a 997 Sandigan Transport Service Coop. bus sped through a red light across an intersection at the corner of Quezon Avenue and Miriam Defensor Santiago Road at 5 a.m. on May 29.
An armored vehicle hit the passenger bus while the latter was crossing a red light.
“From the investigation of the police, it is clear that there was reckless driving involved, which compromised the safety of the bus passengers,” he said.
The bus firm was summoned to explain and was penalized with a 30-day preventive suspension, while the bus driver was asked to explain his side. (PNA)
