LTFRB grounds 2 buses for predawn ‘race’

THE LAND Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has suspended two units of Philippians Bus Lines Inc. after they were reported to be racing with each other on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

The 30-day suspension order stemmed from the complaint filed by radio broadcaster Gerry Baja, who reported that the two buses “were swerving from lane to lane and blowing their horn at other vehicles” on April 21 at 4:45 a.m., the LTFRB said on Saturday.

Baja, who filed the complaint as a concerned citizen, noted that the two buses were running at high speed when they reached Tandang Sora flyover and appeared to be racing each other.

After evaluating the details of the complaint, the LTFRB issued the suspension on the two buses with body numbers 201216 and 201217 driven by Ernesto Alfon Jr. and Joel Sarrage, respectively, for endangering the lives of passengers and motorists.

“We have repeatedly reminded bus operators to warn their drivers against reckless driving so that they would not be involved in an accident. The board will not think twice to revoke or cancel their permit to operate,” LTFRB Chair Winston Ginez said.

The LTFRB asked the bus company to surrender the yellow plates of the two buses—AEL 590 and AEL 597—to the board’s legal division.

It also recommended to the Land Transportation Office the three-month suspension of the driver’s license of Alfon and Sarrage.

The bus company was ordered to pay a P10,000 fine for employing reckless drivers, an offense penalized under the LTFRB’s Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01.