Yaphas to handle bills; Victims won’t sue

THE last fatality in the Toledo bus crash, 59-year-old Felidelfa Barabate died from serious brain injuries at 12 noon at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC).

She was brought unconscious with a fractured right shoulder  to the government hospital.

Her daughter Senen Carbonilla said the family would not press charges against the bus company h since they were promised assistance.

“Dili na mauli ang kinabuhi sa among inahan… Nipasalig nga mosuportar gyud sila (They can’t bring my mother back to life… They (the bus company)  assured us they would provide support,” she told reporters.

The victim had accompanied her husband, Diosdado, 58, to Cebu City for tests in a private hospital The couple were on their way home to Poblacion, Pinamungajan when the accident occurred.

Bus fleet owner Dr.  Antonio Yapha, former 3rd district congressman, said it was the first time an accident like this struck the bus firm since he started the business in 1979.

“Dili man gyud ni malikayan (Some accidents can’t be avoided),” said the physician.

His daughter Geraldine Yapha, mayor of Pinamungahan, is running for congress in Cebu’s 3rd district against Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

Mayor Yapha said burial expenses would be handled by the company and that her father has already arranged matters with a funeral home.

Dr. Yapha visited the trauma room of VSMMC where most of the injured were admitted. He said the company would shoulder medical expenses of all those injured.

Asked about assistance for the victims offered by the Capitol and office of  3rd district Rep. Pablo John Garcia, Yapha said it was “very welcome.”

“Dili baya na pamolitika. Minatay baya na (I welcome that. It’s not politicking.  We’re dealing with a serious matter of deaths.)” said the physician.

Yapha said the company was ready to submit to an investigation.

“Yes,this the normal course of things in the LTFRB when there’s an accident.  You have to explain. You have to tell the truth,” he said. “We are open for any investigation.”

His daugther Mayor Yapha echoed his senitment.

“Why shouldn’t we accept help? Our family is very happy to be getting help from the mayors, the governor and the congressman. As for the (Yapha) family, we will stick to our promise to the families that we will wil not leave them behind.”

Asked if a fixed amount was pledged, she said there was none.

“It’s a continuing assistance. We don’t know what they need in the next day. We are helping as the need arises,” she said.

At 11 a.m., Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Congressman Garcia visited the hospital’s trauma ward bringing food relief.

Whatever expense the insurance of the bus liner can’t cover, Rep. Garcia said he and the governor’s office would shoulder it “through our social welfare fund.”

He said he was waiting for the police report on the accident.

“Although this is the second time a bus accident took place in that site, there were reports of overspeeding which led to the loss of brakes. That’s a road curve. I’ll just wait for the full police report,” he said.

“As what DPWH is doing, we will continue to make the place safer,” he added.

Road signs and a concrete perimeter fence was placed in DAS road after the 2010 bus accident there that killed 15 people.

“If more is needed, ’Im sure DPWH will look into that,” he told reporters