MANILA, (PNA) -– The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Monday suspended 43 units of the three bus companies involved in the deadly road accident in Quezon province last Saturday.
Atty. Roberto Cabrera III, executive director of LTFRB, said a total of 35 units of Superlines, six buses of Bicol Isarog and two of BLTB Co. were ordered suspended for 30 days based on the police report submitted to the board.
”As of today, we have suspended 43 units from three bus companies involved in the Atimonan accident. The 30-day preventive suspension is initially based on the reports we have gathered,” he told the Philippines News Agency.
Cabrera said the LTFRB has sent its own investigators to the accident site to conduct parallel probe of the mishap involving eight vehicles –a truck, three buses from the said companies, three vans and a passenger jeepney.
”We have sent our investigators to conduct parallel investigation of the accident,” he said.
Cabrera said the initial 30-day preventive suspension slapped on the three bus companies could still be increased depending on the results of the ongoing LTFRB investigation.
”Depending on the results of our parallel investigation, it (30-day suspension) could be raised to 60 months or even revocation of the franchise, it depends really on the probe,” he said.
The eight-vehicle smash up along the national highway in Atimonan, Quezon resulted in the death of 20 people while 57 others were injured.