Cops hunt convicted Florida bus driver

Tragic Bontoc road accident 

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Police are now hunting the driver of the GV Florida bus that plunged into a deep ravine in Bontoc, Mountain Province in February last year that killed 15 people, including comedian Tado Jimenez.

Senior Supt. Oliver Enmodias, Mountain Province Police Provincial Office director, said ever since the court rendered its decision last August 4 against held Edgar Mendoza Reynon, the driver of the ill-fated bus, the latter has not served a day of his sentence.

In a nine-page decision issued by Municipal Trial Court Judge Luis Daoen in this capital town, Reynon was found guilty in the complex crime of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide with serious physical injuries and less serious physical injuries.

Daoen sentenced him to suffer an indeterminate sentence of at least two years and four months as minimum in prison correctional to a maximum of six years.

The court also held Reynon liable in the 25 counts of reckless imprudence resulting in slight physical injuries and sentenced him to suffer 30 days of jail term for every count.

Reynon was also ordered to indemnify the family of the victims with P50,000 each. There were 15 who died in the incident.

Arvin “Tado” Jimenez, Gerald Baja, Katrina Gozos and Andrew Sicam, were not included in the case as they opted to file a case separate from the suit filed by the Bontoc police against Reynon.

An indemnity amount of P20,596.50 was also ordered by the court to be paid by Reynon to victim Carina Codiamat, for her expenses in getting medical treatment at the hospital following the incident.

The court also held GV Florida Transport Corporation subsidiarily liable to pay the indemnity amounts to the victims in case Reynon fails to pay the same due to personal bankruptcy and incapability.

It can be remembered that Florida bus with plate number TXT 872 was on its way to Bontoc, Mountain Povince from Sampaloc, Manila when it figured in an accident 7:20 a.m. on Feb. 7, 2014.