2 Gantuangco buses fail road worthiness test

CEBU, Philippines - Two of the five remaining buses owned by Dulce Gantuangco of V & JA Bus Company failed the road worthiness test conducted by the Land Transportation Office 7 Motor Vehicle Inspection Center.

LTO-7 Regional Director Raul Aguilos said the MVIC personnel are still awaiting Gantuangco’s three other buses checked by technicians.

Aguilos said that aside from the absence of hand brakes, the two buses also lack the required number of seat belts required under Republic Act 8750 to help ensure the safety of the passengers in case of an accident. 

“Gamit man gud kaayo kining hand brakes kay motabang man kini sa pagpahunong sa sakyanan, ilabi na kon panahon sa emerhensya,” Aguilos said.

One of Gantuangco’s buses figured an accident while maneuvering a downhill and curve road at barangay Don Andres Soriano in Toledo City killing 15 of its passengers and injured 65 others.

It was reported that the vehicle’s brake system malfunctioned while the driver was already negotiating the curve road that prompted him to intentionally ram the right site of the vehicle into a concrete post and wall of a house.

“Kinahanglan g’yud nga ang usa ka sakyanan dunay hand brake kay magamit man kini kon dunay emergency,” said Aguilos.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas had suspended the franchise of the five remaining buses of Gantuangco for a period of one month for her to prove that her vehicles are road worthy.

She was ordered to proceed to the LTFRB-7 regional office at 8:30 a.m. today to show cause of why her franchise would not be revoke and also to present proofs of maintenance for her buses in the past five years.

Gantuangco’s six bus drivers had been found negative of illegal drugs when they were subjected to a drug test the other day, but the results of the proficiency driving test is still to be announced today.  — THE FREEMAN