MANILA — Malacañang on Thursday offered sympathy to the families and friends of victims who died in a bus accident in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro that happened Tuesday evening.
In a Palace briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. asked the media to pause for a prayer for the victims of the road mishap.
“The Palace expresses its deep sympathies to the victims to their families and friends,” Roque said.
Roque also urged bus drivers to observe extra caution when plying their respective routes especially as more people are expected to visit their provinces during the Holy Week and summer vacation.
“Nananawagan po kami sa lahat lalo na sa mga tsuper ng bus na ibayong pag-iingat lalo na at palapit na ang Senama Santa at summer break kung saan libo-libo sa ating mga kababayan ang luluwas at uuwi sa kani-kanilang mga probinsiya (We appeal to all, especially bus drivers, to observe extra caution especially as Holy Week and summer break is fast approaching where more of our citizens are expected to visit their respective provinces),” Roque said.
Roque, meanwhile, said that the Palace will await results of the investigation to find out whether officers of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory (LTFRB) are also at fault for their negligence.
“Antayin muna natin kung ano talaga magiging resulta ng imbestigasyon. Kung ito po’y resulta ng kapabayaan ng mga taong gobyerno siyempre po meron nanamang masisibak (Let’s wait for the result of the investigation. If there are negligent government employees involved, there will surely be someone sacked),” Roque said.
Roque, however, assured that justice for the victims’ families and friends will be served.
“Sa ngayon po nagpaparating lang po kami ng pakikiramay sa mga pamilya ng nasawi. Darating po tayo sa punto na bibigyn natin ng katarungan yung mga nasawi (At present, we are sending our sympathies to the family of those deceased. We will reach the point where justice will be served to those who died in the accident),” Roque said.
Assistance offered
To date, the LTFRB has grounded 10 buses of Dimple Star Bus after one of the company’s units figured in an accident that killed 19 people in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.
The LTFRB has directed Dimple Star to inspect and determine the roadworthiness of its buses and for its drivers and conductors to undergo road safety seminar during the effectivity of the suspension order.
A Dimple Star Bus fell onto a cliff along a national highway in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro Tuesday evening.
The bus (TYU 708) was traveling on a northbound direction from San Jose to Abra de Ilog when the vehicle reportedly lost control and fell into a cliff, killing 19 passengers and injuring 21 others.
The LTFRB, meanwhile, assured that financial assistance will be provided to the victims.
“For the deceased that are single, their birth certificate and ID of the parents should be submitted. For those who are married, the marriage certificate and ID of the surviving spouse should be filed. They need to submit these documents in order to fast track the release of the financial assistance,” LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada said in a text message to reporters. (Azer Parrocha/PNA)
