LTFRB junks Victory Liner's plea on 42 buses grounding

MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on Thursday junked the appeal of the Victory Liner to reconsider the grounding of operations of the company's 42 units after one of its buses figured in a fatal accident last week.

The Board issued a 30-day preventive suspension order on Wednesday, directing 42 units with Sta-Cruz, Zambales-Iba-Olongapo-Manila route grounded in their garages in Rizal Avenue Extension, Caloocan City, Olongapo City and Sta. Cruz, Zambales for physical inspection.

The Board's order came after one of the company’s units figured in an accident on the afternoon of  April 21 along National Highway Purok 1 Libas, New Cabalan, Olongapo City. The mishap resulted in the death of an elderly pedestrian and injury to 41 passengers.

"The Board has strict rules in penalizing any bus company that is involved in any fatal road accident. Kahit na isang unit lang nila ang naka-aksidente, lahat ng kanilang unit at kailangang dumaan sa physical check to determine their roadworthiness. Ang kaligtasan ng ating mananakay ang aming priority," LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez said.

In denying Victory Liner’s MR, the Board is preventing  a precedent, Ginez said.

"We want to be fair and apply the same legal process to all bus companies that commit violations of their CPCs (certificate of public convenience), and Victory Liner is not different with those that previously committed similar offense," he added.

Simultaneous with the serving of the order denying their MR, LTFRB personnel will also be confiscating the yellow for hire plates of the 42 units in their garages today.

All the units will have to undergo physical inspection at Land Transportation Office's Motor Inspection Service compound to determine their roadworthiness.

All their drivers will have to be subjected to compulsory drug testing to be conducted by authorized/accredited agency of the LTO and Department of Health.  

The Board has set a hearing on the case on May 7 where the bus company is expected to explain why their CPCs should not be suspended, cancelled or revoked for violation of the terms and conditions of its franchise.

Failure of the bus company's representative to appear on the scheduled date of hearing will be considered as a waiver on their part and the Board will decide on the merits of the case based on their franchise records.