Only one fatality in bus crash remains unidentified

MANILA, Philippines - Of the 18 passengers who perished in last Monday’s accident, only one remained unidentified as of yesterday.

Lenie Domingo of Veronica Funeral Homes said the unclaimed victim, a woman, is identified as “victim no. 6.”

She was the last of 18 passengers who died when a bus fell off the Skyway in Parañaque City last Monday and crashed onto a van below.

Another victim was identified as Emmanuel Layon by his relatives at the funeral parlor yesterday.

Domingo said if victim no. 6 remains unidentified and unclaimed after two months, the funeral parlor would bury her at the Pasay City Public Cemetery where her relatives could later retrieve her remains.

Victim no. 6 was described as medium built with shoulder-length wavy hair, wearing denim pants, a woven belt, pink bra and a dark colored blouse.

The victims who were earlier identified were Arnold Jimenos, Roberto Bautista, Alvin Balurin, Ricardo Gonzales Jr., Reycel Constantino, William Toledo, and Mar Edriane. 

At the Funeraria Amigo in Bicutan, Taguig City, eight bodies from the bus crash were also identified and claimed by their respective families.

Identified and claimed at Funeraria Amigo were Mary Ann Superio, Joey Esponilla, Jean Angelique Cadiz, Rodel Tolentino, Roger Orquejo, Richard Gaveria, Archie Dino and Ramon Labang, conductor of the Don Mariano Transit bus that figured in the accident.

The body of another victim, Rolly Bores, was claimed by his relatives from the Parañaque Medical Center.

Relatives of six of the victims have filed a separate civil suit against Don Mariano Transit. 

The police Highway Patrol Group (HPG) on Tuesday filed charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide against bus driver Carmelo Calatcat, who is still being treated at a Parañaque hospital.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has suspended the operations of Don Mariano Transit for 30 days while the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is monitoring the bus firm’s compliance with occupational health and safety standards.

The LTFRB is considering revoking the franchise of Don Mariano Transit after it found several of its passenger buses unsafe.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, on the other hand, said the move to revoke the franchise of Don Mariano Transit could lead to economic displacement of its hundreds of bus drivers and conductors.

“On the point of view of possible job losses, we would rather that a selective suspension be enforced, like only bus drivers who have bad records and bus units that are high risk which should be stopped from operating,” Baldoz explained.

“I don’t know how the LTFRB can implement it, but I think it would not be fair that other drivers who have been complying with regulations and performing their job well should be affected by the fault of one erring driver,” she said.

Some 78 drivers and 108 conductors are temporarily out of work following the LTFRB’s decision to place the franchise of Don Mariano under a 30-day preventive suspension.

Baldoz suggested the LTFRB should inspect every bus and allow the units that have passed technical safety standards and suspend those that are high-risk. – Mayen Jaymalin