More trouble for EDC Liner? LTFRB looks into report of buses sans franchises

CEBU, Philippines – More trouble looms for the management of EDC Bus Liner as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), which suspended the company’s franchise the other day, is looking into reports of illegal operation of public utility vehicles.

One of the mini buses in the fleet of EDC figured in a mishap last Saturday in Tuyan, Naga leaving 14 people dead.

LTFRB-7 regional director Romulo Bernardes said aside from the investigation on the accident, the company will be facing probe also for allegedly operating buses that have no franchise.

Bernardes said he received reports that Eladio Colaljo, owner of the bus company, is operating buses that don’t have a corresponding franchise.

LTFRB was told that Colaljo is fielding nine buses when he only has seven franchises.

Bernardes told The Freeman that Colaljo himself admitted during the service of the summons for the suspension of his franchises that he is fielding nine mini buses.

“Ang tag-iya mismo miangkon nga nine units ang iyang gi-operate. Mura gani to siya og nakuratan nga akong giingnan nganong pito ra man ang ilang franchise,” Bernardes said.

The investigation is set to formally start this morning with Atty. Douglas Sanson as hearing officer.

Bernardes however clarified that the papers of the bus that met an accident were in order. The LTFRB has also conducted ocular inspection at the EDC garage and only found seven units.

Bernardes believes that the two mini buses that do not have franchises may have been kept already after he had alerted the operator about his possible violation. Nevertheless, Bernardes said he will pursue the investigation to look into the possible illegal operation PUVs by Colaljo.

Bernardes said Colaljo may be fined P6,000 per unit of colorum vehicle. A stiffer penalty may also be recommended depending on the gravity of the offense, he added.

As of yesterday, Bernardes said, all of the license plates of the EDC buses have been confiscated by LTFRB after he ordered the 30 days preventive suspension of the bus company’s franchises.

Last Saturday an EDC mini bus driven by Aladin Law-it collided with a ten-wheeler truck in Tuyan, Naga.

The accident has been initially blamed on Law-it for going out of his lane.

The incident prompted the president of the Cebu South Mini-Bus Operators Association to call for an emergency meeting of his members yesterday to discuss the proposal to conduct periodic drug test on mini bus drivers.

Julito Flores proposed a drug test for their drivers every three months after suspicions that the driver of the EDC mini bus was under the influence of drugs.

Land Transportation Office regional director Raul Aguilos also proposed the conduct of a roadside drug test for the drivers of all public utility vehicles.

Aguilos said he will endorse before the Association of Regional Executives of National Agencies wherein he is president to conduct checkpoints and subject the drivers to random drug tests. –Fred P. Languido and Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)