Firm penalized after mishap involving its bus

PASSENGERS of the ill-fated Ceres bus are brought to an ambulance that will take them to a hospital for injuries they suffered during the bus crash. JUNJIE MENDOZA/CEBU DAILY NEWS

CEBU CITY—The government on Monday stopped a transport firm here from operating at least 10 buses after one of its buses figured in an accident that killed two persons, including a 5-year-old girl, and injured 19 others.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) suspended the operations of 10 buses of Vallacar Transit after one of its buses met an accident in Badian town, Cebu province, and killed Marlyn Gerson, 41, and her daughter, Geralyn, 5.

The fatalities were the wife and daughter of the driver of the ill-fated bus, identified as Erwin. They were seated beside Erwin in the bus when the accident took place.

PO2 Bismarck Babiera, police investigator of Badian, said Erwin tested positive for alcohol.

The bus, named Ceres and with license Plate No. CEH 722  and body No. 8340, left its terminal in Santander, Cebu, headed for this city when the accident happened on the national highway of Balhaan, a village in Badian, a little past 7 a.m. on Monday.

The bus was on a downhill road when it hit a steel post, causing it to fall on its side.

The Ceres buses, owned by Vallacar, ply the route between this city and Guihulngan in Negros Oriental province.

Ahmed Cuizon, head of the LTFRB in Central Visayas, said the law provides that any accident with deaths automatically results in the suspension of the operations of the vehicles involved in the accident.

The suspension order would last for 30 days starting on Monday, Cuizon said.

He said, however, that the LTFRB could not suspend the entire operations of Vallacar because it could lead to a transport shortage during the holiday season.

All buses being operated by Vallacar, however, would be subjected to roadworthiness tests and their drivers made to undergo seminars, and drug and alcohol tests at the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Arnel Tancinco, Central Visayas LTO head, said his office was waiting for a report from the Badian police about the accident before it would take action.

Since the accident involved deaths, Tancinco said the driver’s license of Erwin might be suspended for 90 days.

If Erwin would be proven to be driving under the influence of alcohol, his license would be revoked, according to Tancinco.

Tancinco said the LTO could not yet apprehend drunk drivers since the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 100586, the new law against drunken driving, have yet to be released.