LTFRB to suspend bus firm after crash that killed 2 in Occidental Mindoro

LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada (File photo from Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Published: 4:06 p.m., Dec. 10, 2017 | Updated: 5:42 p.m., Dec. 10, 2017

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said it would order the preventive suspension of Charm Travel and Tour Bus company after two of its buses figured in an accident in Occidental Mindoro that killed two people on Saturday evening.

“The board will be issuing a preventive suspension order on its two units,” LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada in a message sent to reporters on Sunday. “It appears that the bus is out of line. Since the franchise was issued by Region 3, therefore the bus should only be operating within Region 3. But the road crash happened in Region 4.”

Region 3 covers the Central Luzon area. Region 4 includes both the Calabarzon and Mimaropa areas. Occidental Mindoro is part of Mimaropa.

Lizada added that LTFRB would invite representatives of the University of Rizal System (URS) to attend the hearing.

READ: 2 killed as bus carrying athletes falls into ravine in Occidental Mindoro

According to police report, 44 of the passengers of the bus were students of URS – Morong, Rizal. The accident happened in Barangay Nicolas, Occidental Mindoro.

The students were on the way to attend the Southern Tagalog Region Association of State Universities & Colleges Olympics (Strasuc) 2017 at the Occidental Mindoro State College.

According to the Occidental Mindoro police, 26 students were in jured in the accident and two URS officials died, identified as Elmer Decillo, 61-year-old sports and recreation director, and Jonathan Penada, 51-year-old campus director.

The injured students were taken to San Jose District Hospital, Westmin Hospital in San Jose, and Calapan District Hospital. /je /atm