5 DEAD, 23 HURT AFTER BUS FALLS OFF RAVINE IN CAMARINES SUR

FIVE people died while 23 others were injured when a passenger bus on Friday fell off a ravine in Del Gallego, Camarines Sur.

Based on initial reports, the incident occurred around 3:25 a.m. on Friday along Rolando Andaya Highway in Bgy. Magais I, Del Gallego town.

A DLTB bus with plate number UYA 479 took off Cubao station and was heading to Gubat, Sorsogon when it suddenly fell into a cliff which is around 10 meters high.

Five passengers died, including a 60-year-old woman, while 23 others, including the driver and an alternate driver, were seriously injured.

The wounded passengers and drivers were taken to a hospital in Tagkawayan, Quezon for treatment.

Meanwhile, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman attorney Vigor Mendoza II has ordered an immediate investigation into the tragedy.

He warned to hold accountable those who must be held responsible for the deadly plunge.

Mendoza said they will be issuing a show cause order (SCO) to the bus company in order to ensure that the investigation will capture all the circumstances.

“We already received a copy of the police report and it was mentioned there that the driver fell asleep, and this led to the road crash,” the LTFRB chief said.

A hearing has been scheduled which according to Mendoza, will dig deeper whether proper protocol and mental and physical readiness of the designated drivers were followed.

Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has instructed Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez to be tough against those who violate road safety regulations.

Initial verification revealed the bus is registered under the Del Motor Works Inc. and is covered by a Certificate of Public Conveyance that was granted in 2022 and set to expire in March next year.

“We will get to the bottom of this case and hold accountable those who must be held responsible,” he pointed out.

He said the LTFRB will be coordinating with the concerned insurance providers to expedite the release of the insurance payment.

Mendoza, earlier instructed all bus companies to ensure the road worthiness of their vehicles and the readiness of their drivers for the influx of passengers amid the Christmas and New Year rush.