CAMP VICENTE LIM, LAGUNA?The latest bus that killed five people last Sunday had no franchise to operate when it lost its brakes, careened into a creek in a Quezon town, and sent its passengers to a hellish experience, police said Tuesday.

Senior Supt. Antonio Gardiola, chief of the Calabarzon Highway Patrol Group, said in a press conference that the certificate of public conveyance, a permit to ply as passenger carrier, of the CUL Bus Transport unit that fell into the creek in Pagbilao, Quezon, had already expired on Feb. 28.

Gardiola said the CUL franchise expired on March 22, 2009, or more than four months before the CUL bus lost its brakes and killed five of its passengers last Sunday.

Business as usual

But as if nothing happened, it was business as usual in CUL, which is based in Tacloban City.

A female bus firm employee, who asked not to be identified, said CUL continued to operate and two trips to Manila were to proceed as scheduled Tuesday.

He said police in Pagbilao filed charges of reckless imprudence with homicide and multiple physical injuries against bus driver Oscar Pedrigosa, 36, who is being held by police.

The operator of CUL is a certain Carolina Lam. Gardiola said she would be summoned by police.

At dawn on Sunday, the Manila-bound bus with body number 8007, fell into a creek in Barangay Silangang Malicboy, Pagbilao. Five passengers died?Milagros Eguia, Jesusa Venuz, Arnel Daang, Teresa Torillar and Dea Karyll Aplan.

At least 52 others were injured.

?Just before they fell, the survivors recalled the driver screaming, ?We lost brakes,?? said Gardiola.

He said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has suspended the operations of CUL.

The 247-kilometer Maharlika Highway is notorious for road accidents.

The road, however, couldn?t be blamed for the accidents, according to a top public works engineer in Quezon.

Rolling coffins

Ronel Tan, district engineer, said in most cases, buses involved in accidents were found not to be road-worthy. In other cases, drivers were believed to be at fault.

Tan said the DPWH crew will install new steel railings and repair the damaged concrete portion of the Amao Bridge. ?We?ve already put up steel railings on that site several times in the past due to past accidents,? he said.

Tan said he will again order his crew to fill the Maharlika Highway with more road signs, ?rumble strips? in strategic spots and accident-prone areas, and fresh luminous paint on concrete bridges.

?But all of these devices are just warnings and guides. They could not prevent accidents if the vehicle is not in running condition or the driver is not worthy of his license,? he said.

Some drivers in Quezon, who asked that they not be identified for fear of losing their jobs, said most bus operators scrimp on crucial parts needed for their already aged buses. Maricar Cinco and Delfin Mallari, Inquirer Southern Luzon, with a report by Joey Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas