By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz
MANILA – The families of the victims of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) crash filed civil cases on Friday against Pangasinan Solid North Transit Inc. bus company (Solid North) and its bus driver, seeking a total of PHP130 million in damages.
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon accompanied the family of Jonjon and Daina Janica Alinas at the Quezon City Hall of Justice where they filed a civil case that seeks PHP50 million in damages to address the loss of income, moral and exemplary damages caused by the Solid North bus crash on May 1.
Dizon likewise joined the families of the other victims when they filed a civil case at a court in Antipolo City for PHP80 million in damages.
In an interview at the Office of the Clerk of Court in Antipolo City, the DOTr chief said the bus crash was “unacceptable” and “preventable.”
“Kaya sabi ng ating Pangulo, alalayan po natin ang mga pamilya hanggang dulo, hanggang makuha nila ang hustisya na dapat nilang makuha (That’s why President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered us to help the families until its end, until they receive justice),” Dizon said.
In addition to helping the families acquire a lawyer in filing the civil cases, Marcos is also seeking “sweeping reforms” to ensure that similar incidents do not happen again, such as increasing the insurance coverage of public utility vehicles (PUV) to be more in line with private vehicles.
“Marami pa po tayong reporma na parating dahil sa direksyon at utos ng Pangulo. At hindi po natin pababayaan ang mga pamilya nagkaroon ng napakabigat na karanasan dito sa mga nangyaring road crash nitong nakaraan (We well have more reforms based on the directive of the President. And we will take care of the bereaved families who are having a hard time after the road crash),” Dizon said.
He reminded all bus companies that profiting from public conveyance is a privilege granted by the government but it comes with responsibilities.
“May responsibilidad po silang malaki para sa kapakanan at safety ng ating mga kababayan. Hindi lang mga pasahero nila kundi pati mga kababayan natin na nasa kalye (They have a great responsibility for the welfare and safety of the public. Not just passengers, but other road users),” he said.
To date, he said the Solid North bus driver in the incident is out on bail but his license is permanently revoked.
“Hindi na siya makakapag-maneho habang buhay. Hindi na pwede ‘yan. At kailangan siya managot at kailangan din managot ang Solid North (He won’t be able to drive for the rest of his life. And he will need to answer for this incident, so does Solid North),” he said.
Ten people, including four children, were killed and 37 others were injured during the multiple-vehicle crash at the Tarlac City toll plaza of SCTEX.
The bus driver involved has since tested negative for illegal drugs, while Solid North was slapped with a 30-day suspension. (PNA
