Saulog bus franchise suspended after fatal accident
MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has suspended the franchise of Saulog Transit Inc., the bus company that figured in a road mishap last week that killed three people.
In an order issued Monday, the regulator ordered the company to surrender the plate numbers for its 159 buses for a 30-day preventive suspension.
The company was also issued a show-cause order to explain why its franchise should not be permanently canceled.
“In accordance with the public service act, [the LTFRB] hereby suspends for 30 days effective immediately the operation not only of the bus unit involved but also of all the bus units or respondent-operator,” the regulator said.
The LTFRB said any Saulog bus seen operating during the suspension period would be impounded.
At around 1:20 p.m. last September 17, Saulog bus driven by Logie Parangat with the plate number DXN 467 was involved in an accident at the Bocaue – Sta. Rita stretch of the North Luzon Expressway in Bulacan.
Three people—Candice Bondoc, Jenosheva Medina and Imelda Granada—were killed while 21 others were injured or hurt.
The LTFRB said the suspension would be used to inspect all buses used by Saulog to determine their road-worthiness. Drivers and company officials will also undergo road safety seminars.
All drivers would be subjected to drug testing, the LTFRB said.
The agency also ordered Saulog representatives to appear with the driver of the bus that figured in the accident during the hearing on the case on September 22.
“Failure on the part of the respondent to bring its driver and to appear at the hearing on this case… shall be considered waiver on its part to be heard and this case shall be decided on the basis of the records of the board,” the LTFRB said.
“This preventive suspension may be revoked sooner upon compliance with the above conditions or may be partially lifted for the units that have already complied with the above-mentioned conditions,” the order said.
