2 dead, 32 hurt in bus accident

CEBU, Philippines - A woman and her five-year-old daughter died while 32 others were injured after the bus they were riding on fell on its side along the national highway in Barangay Balhaan, Badian town in southern Cebu yesterday morning.

The Ceres bus, with plate number 722 CEH was driven by Erwin Gerson, 42, of Wireless, Mandaue City. The casualties, who were seated beside him, were his wife Marilyn, 41, and daughter Geralyn.

Marilyn and Geralyn died on the scene while those who were injured were taken to different hospitals.

Aida Javierto, 47; Cepriana Cuevas, 46; Renan Letigio, 23; Jimmy Noste, 42; Edwin Batomalaque, 19; and Rosell Zamora, 27, all from Alegria town; Lourdes Bendulo, 63 and her husband, Marcio Bendulo, 71, both of Madridejos town, and Alever Asma, 27, of Moalboal town were taken to the Badian District Hospital.

Jorgen Devila, 19; Melrose Gomez; Prescilla Sanchez, 62, and Isidro Manaba, all from Alegria town; Mary Lou Baricus and Gian Clifford Gorango, both from Madridejos town; Maricris Gomez, of Malabuyoc; and Marilou Malaylan were brought to the Alegria District Hospital.

Virginia Pilingon, 43; Shiela Yung, 29; Melita Abella, 37; Winston Adam Talamini, 19; Bernadita Enario, 20; Shiela Patriarca, 23; all of Alegria town; Renante Ybanez; Gregorio Pogoy, 47, of Barili; Gerenio Talangon, 34, of Malabuyoc; Serevil Cuevas, 21, of Ginatilan: Rory Jay Bitasolo, 20, of Samboan; and Gegion Nobela, 28, of Cebu City, were, meanwhile, rushed to the Malabuyoc District Hospital.

Some of the victims were also referred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City for further medication.

Badian police chief, Insp. Henry Orbiso, said there were three victims who only suffered minor injuries and were made to go home.

Gerson is now detained at the Badian police stockade pending the filing of charges of reckless imprudence resulting to double homicide and multiple physical injuries at the fiscal’s office.

Responding policeman PO1 Bismarck Babiera said Gerson tested positive in the liquor test and added that the driver admitted to drinking liquor the night before he left for Bato, Oslob at 6 am yesterday.

“Nanimaho pa gud siya’g bino,” Babiera said in a phone interview.

Babiera, who arrived at the scene shortly after the incident, said that the bus was travelling at a high speed while negotiating sharp turns when Gerson lost control, causing the bus to hit a metal post before it tilted and eventually fell on its side.

“Base sa skid marks naka-brake siya mga 40 meters sa wala pa natumba,” Babiera said.

The police officer added that the driver reasoned that he was only travelling at a speed of 60kph, which is contrary to the accounts of witnesses.

“Kusog gyud kuno ang dagan matud pa sa nakakita pero kung sa impact imong tan-awn kusog gyud,” he said.

Police chief Orbiso said they also received reports that Marilyn and Erwin were arguing prior to the incident.

“Naglalis kuno nang duha unya ang asawa dunay gikab-ot sa manibela pero ato pa nang i-verify kay base ra man na sa didto sa area,” he said, adding that they are waiting for witnesses to appear and prove the report.

Meanwhile, following the accident, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 issued a suspension order against the buses of Vallacar Transit, which is covered by the same franchise number as that of the bus that figured in the accident. 

LTRFB 7 Director Ahmed Cuizon said the order was served yesterday afternoon and will be in effect for 30 days.

He said he personally informed the bus management about the suspension order and Vallacar Transit voluntarily recalled its units.

“Ang pagsuspenso sa mga napu ka bus belonging to the same franchise number niining bus nga naaksidenti sa Badian karong adlawa magsugod. Ug sugod karon 30 dias pa usa ilibkas (The suspension of the 10 buses with the same franchise number as the bus that figured in the Badian accident will take effect today and will last for 30 days),” Cuizon said.

Cuizon said that under the rules, all buses under the same franchise are automatically suspended once a bus figures in an accident and there is a casualty.

“Sa atoang lagda ato man nang giingon nga og pananglitan aduna gani mamatay sa operasyon sa usa ka bus ang tanan nga mga bus nga ilawom sa susamang  franchise units maapilan og apektar sa atong suspension order (In our manual, it is stipulated that once there is death in an accident involving a bus, all buses covered by the same franchise will be covered by the suspension order),” Cuizon said.

The drivers of the 10 buses will also need to undergo a safety seminar and drug and liquor tests at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7.

The buses will also be made to undergo a road worthiness test. 

Last August 25, a bus of Ceres Liner also figured in an accident in Argao, which killed one passenger.

In an earlier interview, Lowell Dacalos, former administrative manager of VTI in Cebu, said Ceres Liner has 260 buses operating in the province, both in the north and in the south, and 2,400 buses nationwide.

Dacalos said the accident last August was the 33rd involving a VTI bus since January this year. From January to June, 31 minor accidents involving Ceres buses were recorded, 26 of which indicated that the bus drivers were at fault. – with Bryner Diaz and Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/QSB