8 Autobus units get 1-month suspension over Bogo mishap

At least eight buses of the Metro Cebu Autobus Corporation were suspended for one month by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 7 starting Tuesday.

LFTRB-7 Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon announced the suspension after  a meeting with company officials yesterday.

Last Monday an Autobus unit collided with  an oncoming  Toyota Altis sedan in the national highway in Bogo City in north Cebu.  Three bus passengers were killed and 37 were injured, including both drivers.

The suspended buses are listed in the  same franchise number of the bus that figured in the accident.

Cuizon said Autobus units covered by other franchises can still operate.

Autobus operates a fleet of more than 30 buses.

“We just want to uphold public safety. We want to be sure that the riding public is  safe, especially now that it is passenger season because of Christmas,” Cuizon said.

Based on police investigation the bus “was just a second party to the accident” as it was the private car that rammed  it but “the suspension is standard operating procedure,” Cuizon said.

During the one-month suspension, the company has to  submit the eight buses (including the one involved in the accident) to road worthiness tests and its  drivers must be subjected to a drug test.

During yesterday’s LTFRB  hearing, bus owner  Alfonso Corominas and his  lawyer Joel Chavez agreed with the one month suspension, Cuizon said.

Bogo City traffic investigator P03 Edwin Dignos said they have not yet filed charges against the two drivers  in the accident as no one showed up at  the police station to file a complaint. The bus driver  Jose Rosaceña was released yesterday to the custody of the bus company. The Toyota Altis driver Aldrin Presbitero was  released last Monday to the custody of his relative. /Jhunnex Napallacan, Correspondent with reports from Correspondent Joy Cherry Quito