Last December 25, we received an information from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) involving a tragic head-on collision incident between a Partas Bus Liner (with plate number 137704) and Public Utility Jeep (PUJ) with plate number WST 575 in Agoo, La Union.
According to Police Chief Inspector Roy Villanueva of Philippine National Police Regional Office 1 (Agoo Police Station), the two vehicles were traversing along National Highway of Barangay San Jose Sur in an opposite lane around 3:30 am, when the PUJ (which was heading Southbound lane) tries to overtake and collided to the incoming Partas Bus Liner.
The Public Utility Jeep (PUJ), which was driven by 34-years old Rolando Abenes Perez Jr, was carrying 29 passengers on its way to attend a church service in Manaoag Church in Pangasinan, when the tragic collision occurs. Due to the severe impact sustained by the Jeep, twenty (20) of its passengers were declared dead on arrival when they rushed to La Union Medical Center (LUMC). Meanwhile, the Partas Bus Liner, which was driven by 43-years old Rodel Silvania Sadac, was on-board with thirty one (31) passengers when the collision occurs. While the PUJ passengers experience tragic loss, the Partas Bus Liner passengers (which include the driver and conductor) miraculously survived on the road crash leaving few passengers injuries on-board.
NOW WHO’s TO BLAME?
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) already issued a 30-day preventive suspension order (PSO) to Partas Bus Liner due to its failure of submission of its dashcam card and GPS within the 36-hours time period after the accident.
The operator, Partas Transportation Co, Inc, with business address at Alcantara Street in Vigan City Ilocos Sur, has 29 franchises with 187 units. The units that were covered under the preventive suspension order (PSO) were only seven (7) which covers the Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte-Sampaloc Manila route.
According to LTFRB Spokesperson and Board member Aileen Lizada, “The violation of Partas why they got issued a PSO is for the failure to comply with the directive of the board considering 36-hours napo ang nakalagpas after the road crash accident. Our deadline was 12 noon today and it’s very crucial to the investigation of the board.”
“What Partas management submitted was the footage of CCTV inside the bus that will not help us resolved of the road crash, what we need is the footage of the dashcam,” explained Lizada.
To give you an idea, here’s the actual CCTV footage submitted by Partas Bus Liner to LTFRB during the road crash:
As of this writing, the management of Partas already submitted 3 gadgets to LTFRB which include GPS CCTV and Dashcam. The accredited provider of the GPS of Partas assures LTFRB that they can retrieve the data. We hope so.
“Accidents like this happens only for two reasons-the driver is in a hurry or the passenger pressures the driver to meet a schedule. In this fast-paced session of holiday shopping, outing and family reunions LTFRB would like to address this message, not only to the drivers, but also to passengers of private or hired vehicles, do not rush your drivers. In fact, constantly remind them to follow traffic rules and observe limits,” adds Lizada.
Lizada shares that commuters should also be vigilant before taking public utility vehicles. “Before boarding the PUV, take a picture of the plate number so if your PUV driver refuses to heed your advise, you can post @ltfrb or fb account ltfrb citizen enforcer.”