Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 6) — The number of reported dead after a passenger bus fell off a cliff in Hamtic, Antique on Tuesday has risen to 17, the provincial government said Wednesday.
Antique-based correspondent Carla Doromal contributed to this story.
In an interview with CNN Philippines’ Balitaan, Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao said 13 were dead on the spot, while three more died in the hospital.
One of the eight passengers who were in critical condition due to head injuries already died, she added.
Among those killed were the bus driver, conductor, and line inspector of the Ceres Liner bus, its operator Vallacar Transit Inc. confirmed.
Some of the injured passengers were taken to hospitals in Antique and Iloilo City.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said the bus was bound from Iloilo City to Antique when it encountered “mechanical failure.” The bus then fell off the mountainous zigzag road in Barangay Igbucagay.
The fatal incident led the LTFRB to suspend the operations of the 13 bus units of Vallacar Transit Inc. that ply the Iloilo City (Molo Terminal) – Caticlan via San Jose, Pandan route for 90 days.
“Titingnan namin ‘yung ledgers sa terminal kung ano ‘yung condition bago ito umalis (we will look at the ledgers of the terminal to know about the condition of the bus before it left) and of course, we will look also into the condition of the driver,” LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said.
The bus operator assured that it is “taking all the appropriate steps to ensure that our buses are roadworthy and well-maintained.”
Meanwhile, Antique Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) chief Broderick Train said that this is the second time that a Ceres bus got involved in an accident along the same road.
According to witnesses, the Antique PDRRMO said that the bus allegedly experienced brake failure while running at around 60 to 70 kilometers per hour.
“According sa witness, itong nangyari na ito, tumatakbo na siya ng mga 60 to 70 [kph] palusong,” Train told CNN Philippines’ News Night. “Mahirap na pigilan dahil nawalan na nga ng brakes, according sa mga eyewitness po.”
[Translation: According to a witness, the bus was running at around 60 to 70 kph. It was very hard to stop the bus because the brake failed, according to the eyewitnesses.]
The local disaster management office pointed out that there were no speed limit signages along the road.
“May mga speed limit pero nung na-process na may widening diyan, tinanggal yung mga signs na ‘yan at mga information. So hindi naibalik, so walang guidance yung ating mga driver,” Train added.
[Translation: There were signages on speed limit but they were removed during a road widening project. They were not put back, so there was nothing to guide the drivers.]
Both the Antique provincial government and the bus operator will provide financial assistance to the family of the victims, this includes burial expenses.
Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Office directed the regional director of LTO-Western Visayas to launch an investigation into the incident.
All LTO regional directors were also ordered to boost the conduct of road worthiness inspection, as well as the “no registration, no travel” policy.
