Bus firm suspended over doc's death

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) implemented yesterday a cease and desist order against the franchises of the Joanna Jesh Bus line in Metro Manila after two of its buses were involved in an accident along EDSA that killed an eye doctor and injured three others.

LTFRB Chairman Thompson Lantion said the cease and desist order will cover at least 30 of the firm’s buses plying the Alabang-Navotas and Alabang-Fairview routes.

“The cease and desist order is good for 30 days pending result of the hearing scheduled on Oct. 28,” he said.

Lantion said the operator of the Joanna Jesh Bus line was summoned to appear before the LTFRB and explain why their franchises in Metro Manila should not be revoked. 

He said that aside from the two Metro Manila routes, the bus firm also operates a fleet of provincial buses going to Boracay and other areas in the Visayas region.

Dr. Francisco Sarabia died when a speeding Joanna Jesh bus driven by Martinito Madrid hit his Mercedes Benz from behind. The car burst into flames, trapping Sarabia inside.

The bus was reportedly racing with another bus belonging to the same bus firm when the accident happened.

Madrid, according to Superintendent Norberto Babagay, chief of the Traffic Enforcement Unit of the Quezon City Police District, admitted he was involved in a traffic accident last April and has a case of multiple physical injuries filed against him.

Madrid has undergone inquest proceedings for the charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, multiple physical injuries and damage to properties as a result of last Tuesday’s accident. Bail has been set at P30,000 for his temporary liberty.

Madrid’s bus also bumped into the other Joanna Jesh bus and another passenger bus. Three other people – Sarabia’s passenger and a couple onboard Madrid’s bus – were injured because of the incident.

“Here in the Philippines, even if you get involved (in traffic accidents) everyday, you could get off the hook if you’re able to reach a settlement with the other party,” Babagay said.

He suggested that one way to regulate drivers of public utility vehicles is a stricter, round-the-clock enforcement of traffic rules by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) along EDSA.

He said the government should be stricter in granting professional driver’s licenses, which should include a neuropsychological examination for applicants.

Babagay also proposed a recording system within the Land Transportation Office to determine which bus firms and drivers keep getting involved in traffic accidents.

‘MMDA chief to blame for accident’

Meanwhile, Opposition Rep. Roilo Golez blamed MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando for Sarabia’s “fiery death.”

“Fernando declared in Congress that there was no speed limit on EDSA, giving speed maniacs a license to kill. He should apologize to Dr. Sarabia’s family and the people for his irresponsible statement,” he said.

A day after Fernando made the statement in a recent House budget hearing, Land Transportation Office chief Alberto Suansing said Republic Act 4136 prescribes 40 kilometers per hour (kph) as the speed limit on EDSA.

Fernando’s own traffic chief, Angelito Vergel de Dios, supported Suansing’s assertion.

Yesterday morning, despite Sarabia’s speeding-related death, Fernando insisted there was no speed limit along EDSA.

The MMDA, according to its officials, is conducting a study to determine the appropriate speed limit for vehicles plying EDSA. But for now, the MMDA is not implementing a specific speed regulation for the highway aside from reminding drivers to drive carefully and responsibly.

De Dios said the 40-kph speed limit is no longer appropriate since EDSA has become one of Metro Manila’s most important highways.

The MMDA is implementing stricter swerving and lane-changing rules to make the thoroughfare safer, and banned private vehicles from using EDSA’s yellow lanes, which are supposed to be for the exclusive use of buses. – Perseus Echeminada, Reinir Padua, Jess Diaz, Michael Punongbayan