THE fatal road mishap in Bukidnon has prompted the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Northern Mindanao to suspend all Rural Transit buses.
The LTFRB-10 has issued a show cause order with preventive suspension to Rural Transit Mindanao Inc. (RTMI)-Yacapin branch, after one of its passenger buses figured in a road accident that killed three persons and injured 28 others in Barangay Patpat, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon on Thursday, May 24.
LTFRB-Northern Mindanao director Aminoden Guro said the bus company was ordered to submit a report within 72 hours.
Guro said all RTMI buses under case number 2008-823 are suspended for 30 days effective Friday, May 25, pending investigation.
At least four units of them under the said case number, which route is from Cagayan de Oro City to Valencia City in Bukidnon, will be affected by the month-long preventive suspension.
"Sa kada franchise naa manay case number unya depende sa application mana pila kabuok units. Tanan units under ato nga case number nga nadisgrasya will be suspended for 30 days pending investigation," Guro said.
Police said the RTMI bus bearing plate number KVR 367 apparently fell into the “road shoulder” of Purok 2, brgy. Patpat around 3:40 p.m. after avoiding a pedestrian who suddenly crossed the street.
The impact was so strong that a portion of the ill-fated bus turned into a total wreck and human limbs could be seen around being pinned down by the wreckage.
The fatalities were identified as Regine Abug, 10 of Malaybalay City; Irene Gaa, 33 of brgy. Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City; and another 14-year old pedestrian Jomaica Tacay of Malaybalay City.
"Ingon sa driver naay nikalit og tabok unya iyang gilikayan ug wala na siya maka-control pag-brake mao nahulog sa may sikohon nga bahin sa dalan. Katong gilikayan wala masapon pero didto sa pagkahulog dunay mga bata nagdula mao `tong isa namatay," the police said.
All wounded passengers were brought to the different hospitals including the driver, conductor and even one policeman assigned at Impasug-ong town police station.
Guro said the passengers may file a criminal case against the driver while the LTFRB will also probe whether the driver exceeded the 80 kilometers per hour speed limit.
The LTFRB will also check if the driver was not under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs when the incident happened.
"Tan-awon nato sa dashcam or CCTV kung wala ba siya molapas sa speed limit," Guro said.
The LTFRB will also look into whether the company has taken care of all the needs and assistance of the affected passengers.
Guro has reminded all drivers and operators to take heed of the checklist against danger before plying the streets.
"Dili ma-lift ang suspension kung dili ma-check ang mga sakyanan under ato nga case number nga road worthy ug kung dili magpa-drug test ang mga drivers," Guro said.
"Ang mga drivers dunay checklist nga before i-deploy masiguro nga road worthy ug ang driver physically fit, sakto ang tulog kay dili pwede mag drive nga more than 6 hours," he added.