Superintendent Jeff Fanged, Urdaneta police chief, identified the victims as Joseph Quiban, 32, the motorcycle driver, and his companion Lyndon Ordanez, 18.
Their companion, Julius Pulido, 23, survived after he was thrown off the motorcycle.
Fanged said the Partas bus, which came from Ilocos Norte, was cruising along the national highway in Barangay Anonas here at 4 a.m. when the motorcycle hit it.
“The motorcycle, which was northbound, encroached on the southbound lane. After the impact, the motorcycle slid under the bus,” Fanged said.
He said that as the bus dragged the motorcycle, the friction created sparks that ignited the spilled gasoline from the motorcycle.
“The motorcycle’s gas tank eventually exploded, setting the bus on fire,” Fanged said.
He said no one among the 49 bus passengers was hurt as they were able to alight from the bus before it was engulfed by fire.
Fanged said Pulido admitted to investigators that all of them on the motorcycle were drunk, having just come from a drinking session in this city. They were on their way home to Barangay Balligi in neighboring Laoac town.