Driver jailed, arraigned: Bus firm in mishap seeks settlement with victims

By Charlie Lagasca and Raymund Catindig

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- The driver of the GV Florida Transport Inc. bus involved in the recent accident which claimed the lives of at least 14 passengers here was arraigned Friday even as the bus firm sought settlement with the victims.

Senior Supt. Oliver Enmodias, Mt. Province police director, said Edgar Renon, driver of the bus that plunged into a ravine last Feb. 7, was arraigned before the Bontoc regional trial court on charges of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide and serious physical injuries.

At least 31 people on board the Sagada-bound passenger bus also sustained serious injuries, with at least five of them reportedly still confined in hospitals in Bontoc, Baguio City and Metro Manila. 

Renon has been detained since Feb. 14 or a week after he was discharged from the Bontoc General Hospital where he was confined for injuries he sustained in the accident. 

Reports said Renon, who earlier had expressed remorse for the mishap, was having a hard time raising the P80,000 bail for his temporary liberty.

“He has no money to post the required bail,” Enmodias said. 

The fatalities in the Bontoc mishap included comedian Arvin “Tado” Jimenez and Katrina Gozos, a graduating college student from Lipa City, Batangas. 

Jimenez’s widow Lei had her head shaved Wednesday morning in front of the Florida Transport terminal in Sampaloc, Manila to protest what she alleged was the insufficient attention the bus firm was giving to the victims.

She also scored the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for its alleged negligence in ensuring that bus companies comply with road safety regulations to prevent road accidents.

The LTFRB is holding a hearing at the accident site in Bontoc on Feb. 28, which Renon is expected to attend.

LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez announced this during the board’s first hearing on the accident Wednesday, during which he told GV Florida lawyer Alex Versoza to explain in writing his admission that the ill-fated bus actually belonged to Dagupan Bus Co. Inc. 

The bus was supposedly a private unit that was repainted by GV Florida and used the license plate belonging to a bus of another company, Mt. Province Cable Tours, whose franchises were earlier bought by GV Florida without the board’s approval. 

The discovery was made after a check of the chassis and engine number of the ill-fated bus revealed that these belonged to Dagupan Bus Co. 

The LTFRB Wednesday handed over checks each worth P150,000 to the victims’ families.

This was a special arrangement since the bus was technically a “colorum” vehicle, or operating illegally, and thus could not be recognized by the bus firm’s insurance provider.

The amount was raised by GV Florida and a number of insurance providers.

Jimenez’s widow was present during the hearing but was not able to claim the check. 

Ginez said Mrs. Jimenez asked that a representative claim the check for her, but the representative needed a special power of attorney to claim it and would just come back once the document is available.

This, as management of the Cagayan Valley-based GV Florida Bus

Lines has reportedly reached a settlement with some of those injured in the mishap. Enmodias, Mt. Province police director, said the bus firm’s representative, former police colonel Rudy Villano, has reached an agreement with the recuperating victims.

At least 31 passengers were injured in the mishap.

Part of the amicable settlement, according to reports, included medicine and hospitalization expenses of those injured who are still recuperating in various hospitals in the Cordillera and Metro Manila.

Enmodias, however, expressed doubt whether the families of those who died when the GV Florida bus plunged into a ravine, would settle with the company.

The family of the comedian Arvin “Tado” Jimenez, one of the 14 fatalities, reportedly vowed to pursue criminal and civil actions against the bus firm.

Ghads Rodelias, a friend of victim Katrina Gozos, a graduating college student from Lipa City, Batangas, said he doubts if the Gozos family would give in to a settlement.

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is readying emergency assistance for the more than 600 displaced workers of GV Florida, whose operations were suspended for 30 days.

Lawyer Erwin Aquino, DOLE mediator and arbiter for Cagayan Valley, said their office would extend assistance to the workers, mostly drivers and conductors, whose livelihood have been affected due to the suspension imposed by the LTFRB.

“We are still discussing what forms of assistance we would extend. It may be in the form of livelihood or soft loans or temporary employment. Our regional director is now coordinating with our national office about it,” he said.

Aquino said they are also considering long-term assistance to the workers in case the LTFRB would extend its suspension order or revoke the franchise of GV Florida. 

GV Florida’s 288 buses, whose operations practically cover the entire Northern Luzon, have been grounded since Feb. 8 or a day after the Bontoc mishap.

Malacañang on Wednesday reassured the victims’ families that they would still get insurance benefits from GV Florida even if the ill-fated bus was found to be a “colorum” or operating illegally.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez was discussing the matter with the GV Florida management.

In a statement, Virgilio Florida Jr., president of GV Florida Transport Inc.,had conveyed their sympathies to the families of the 14 passengers who were killed when their Sagada-bound bus fell into THE 120-meter ravine.

Meanwhile, Rey Luis, the company’s contact person in Baguio City, said as of Monday, four of the injured passengers remained in a hospital in Baguio while another one was still recuperating at the Bontoc General Hospital.

Luis said the family of one of the fatalities from Mt. Province entered into a settlement with the company last Feb. 14.

Contrary to earlier reports, the company, Florida said, has been and continues to be in touch with the victims’ families, assuring them of the company’s commitment to fulfill “its moral and financial responsibility.”

In fact, Florida said they had released and transmitted funds to cover transport and hospitalization of the injured passengers as well as burial expenses for most of the fatalities.

Florida said they also respect the 30-day suspension of operations imposed on the company a day after the mishap by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

The board is now investigating the bus firm after its unit involved in the accident was found to be “colorum” or operating illegally. 

Florida said the company is also conducting its own inquiry into the incident “in line with our corporate credo and guidelines on the competence and efficiency of our crew and the safety of our passengers.”

The livelihood of GV Florida’s more than 500 employees, mostly drivers and conductors, have been affected after the LTFRB grounded the firm’s 288 buses, whose routes practically covered the entire Northern Luzon.