Bus catches fire in Muntinlupa; none hurt

A provincial bus full of passengers caught fire along South Luzon Expressway in Muntinlupa on Tuesday morning.

Around 50 passengers were offloaded when a Jac Liner bus, with plate number UYE 911, started emitting smoke and eventually caught flames at SLEx-Alabang viaduct around 10 a.m.

The bus was on the way to Balibago terminal in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, from its Gil Puyat terminal in Pasay. Its driver was identified as Jorallie Quijado, 40, of San Mateo, Rizal.

Case investigator SFO1 Katherine Apostol said the fire started at the bus’ engine compartment at the back and did not reach the interior of the bus.

The fire was eventually put out at 10:34 p.m.

Apostol said none of the passengers were hurt and they were later transferred to another bus.

Supt. Jenny Tecson, spokesperson of the Southern Police District, said that the cause of the fire was electrical, noting that the bus alternator (an electrical generator which converts electrical energy to mechanical) was newly repaired./je