210 colorum buses impounded

MANILA, Philippines — At least 210 colorum or unregistered public utility buses and vans have been impounded  by the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) following an accident involving a Dimple Star passenger bus.

HPG director Chief Superintendent Arnel Escobal said 119 of the impounded vehicles are buses.

Escobal said Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) has the highest number of impounded vehicles with 72, followed by Southern Tagalog with 26, and Central Luzon, 17.

Nineteen people died and 21 others were injured when a Dimple Star bus hit the railing of a bridge in Barangay Batong Buhay in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro and fell 20 meters into a ravine on March 21.

The owners of the bus surfaced after President Duterte ordered  their arrest.

Escobal said operations against unregistered vehicles are being conducted in coordination with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and Land Transportation Office.

He said HPG personnel do not arrest drivers of colorum buses. It is up to concerned agencies to file charges and take other legal actions against erring operators and owners, he added.