Victims, families of tragic accident given funds: DOTC uncovers more bus firm ‘violations’

ByDexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY — The Cordillera regional office of the Department of Transportation and Communication has uncovered more alleged violations and negligence on the part of the management of Eso-Nice Transport Corp., the reported owner of the ill-fated passenger bus that plunged down a 150-meter deep ravine in Banangan Sablan, Benguet last week that caused the death of 42 individuals and injuring nine others.

According to lawyer Federico J. Mandapat Jr., regional DOTC- director, the La Union-based bus company did not submit an incident report relative to the Sablan tragic incident which should have been submitted to the agency 24 hours after the accident.

But lawyer Rosendo Meneses, Eso-Nice legal counsel, said there was no intention on the part of the bus company to cover up anything as they are still preparing comprehensive report from experts who are helping the firm assess the incident.

Based on the final report of the Highway Patrol group in the Cordillera, Senior Supt. Vladimir Caster Kahulugan, HPG-Cordillera director, said driver Romeo Subang Jr., and Eso-Nice general manager Edward Lacsamana were negligent which caused the accident.

Kahulugan recommended the filing of criminal charges of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide, multiple physical injuries and damage to property against the driver and the company manager.

Mandapat earlier summoned concerned parties to shed light on the accident.

Aside from mechanical trouble, probers will try to look into the possibility that the bus was overloaded when the accident happened because it contained at least 51 individuals based on the 42 fatalities and nine injured individuals when its actual capacity was reportedly only 35 passengers, exclusive of the driver and bus conductor.

The bus left its terminal in the city with only 25 passengers but it continuously picked up passengers on its way to San Fernando City, La Union until the accident happened in Sablan, Benguet.

Mandapat said all units of the bus company will not be allowed to ply their route until the lifting of the 30-day suspension of its four franchises after its units shall have complied with the road worthiness tests that will be undertaken in the motor vehicle inspection service in San Fernando City, Pampanga.

This, as police here identified the two remaining cadavers from the Aug. 18 bus accident.

Senior Supt. David Q. Lacdan, director of the Baguio City Police Office identified the last two out of the 42 fatalities as Celso Bautista, 60 and a resident of City Camp, Baguio City and Luisa Salda Isem.

At the same time, Lacdan said security is being given to Romeo Suban Jr. the bus driver, who was confined in the intensive care unit of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center to guarantee his safety.

All the fatalities were identified and most of them have already been brought home to their respective places for burial.

Seven passengers, including the driver, are still confined at the BGHMC undergoing treatment for injuries they sustained as a result of the accident.


Meanwhile, families and relatives of all victims of the bus accident can now collect P60,000 for those who died and P12,500 for those who were injured as compulsory insurance coverage from the bus company’s insurer.

“The sum is an all risk, no fault insurance coverage,” Mandapat said. “The claimants can now proceed to the Unitrans office just beside the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board office here at the Pacdal area.”

Mandapat said the Eso-Nice, franchise owner of the ill-fated bus, is also legally obliged to provide assistance to all victims. “It is their legal obligation.”

In another development, the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Cordillera through its Crisis Intervention Unit extended assistance to victims and families.

In coordination with the Cordillera Regional Disaster Coordinating Council, the DSWD-Cordillera earlier participated in the rescue and retrieval operations by providing food assistance to members of the rescue team.

DSWD regional director Porfiria M. Bernardez said the agency provided P45, 000 as initial fund to what local government units extended to victims.

The assistance covered medical needs of seven survivors who were admitted at the Baguio General Hospital while two families received burial assistances. The director also expressed deepest sympathy to the families of the victims.

The DSWD with the Department of Health also provided psycho-social therapy to survivors and families of dead victims.