3 hurt in QC road mishap

MANILA, Philippines – Three people were hurt after a speeding vehicle hit their car in Quezon City before midnight on Saturday.

The victims were identified as Ruby Maliksi, Ryan Manalastas and Gerald Callope.

Witnesses said the vehicle, which was driven by a certain Alvin Buslig, was speeding and it lost control when it reached the curved portion of the road in Tandang Sora.

Buslig’s car then collided with the victims’ red Mitsubishi Lancer.

Reports said Buslig tried to escape after the incident, but he was not able to get away because the residents went after him.

Buslig was also found to be drunk. – Report from Jerome Lantin, ABS-CBN News

 

LTFRB: No bus shortage even after sanctioning 29 firms

A day after meting out sanctions on 29 bus companies involved in last year’s strike, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) downplayed speculations that there will be a bus shortage as 1,000 buses will be penalized.

The LTFRB clarified that its decision is not yet executory and the firms can still appeal their penalties.

LTFRB chairman Jaime Jacob said there is a 15-day grace period when the sanctioned bus firms can still appeal their penalties before the Department of Transportation and Communications or the courts.

“Final siya pero hindi pa executory dahil may period pa to appeal,” Jacob said in an interview on dzBB radio.

Jacob said the sanctions will affect more than 1,000 buses, including 200 with canceled franchises and 800 suspended.

However, Jacob said after the 15-day grace period, they will start enforcing the sanctions.

“May 15 days sila na dumulog sa hukuman o DOTC. During that period, hindi pa i-implement ang decision kasi may karapatan sila umapela. But after that period walang aksyon galing sa kanila o order galing sa hukuman,” he said in an interview on dwIZ radio.

Once the sanctions are executory, they will not be meted out on the bus firms at the same time.

“Kung executory ang decision hindi sila sabay-sabay,” he added.

On Wednesday, the LTFRB affirmed sanctions on some 29 bus companies, canceling the franchises of two firms and suspending those of the other 27 firms.

As of early Thursday, radio dzBB’s Allan Gatus said the bus firms covered by the sanctions are still plying their routes.

The bus firms were found to have participated in a strike last year to oppose the number-coding scheme for public utility buses (PUBs).

Jacob said they are confident they can defend the sanctions before the DOTC or the courts.

“Obligasyon namin i-defend ang aming decision of course through the OSG na abogado ng government offices,” he said.

Jacob also said the LTFRB is formulating plans to ensure that the sanctioned bus firms would not circumvent their penalty by repainting and renaming their buses.

“Ngayon gumagawa kami ng plano paano ito isasagawa,” he said.

He said the LTFRB is working on the with the help of agencies like the Land Transportation Office, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and Philippine National Police. – VVP, GMA News