The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday, Dec. 6, preventively suspended the operation of Ceres Bus Liner for 90 days after the deadly bus accident in Antique.
According to Christian Maño's report on Rapido Hataw Balita, LTFRB Chief Teofilo Guadiz suspended the operation of 13 bus units of Ceres Bus Liner.
The said suspension will take effect amidst the ongoing investigation into the accident.
JUST IN: Operasyon ng Ceres Liner Bus, pinatawan ng 90 days suspension ng @LTFRB | via RH 08 @xtian_mano
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) December 6, 2023
REPORT: https://t.co/iYvr80kqcX pic.twitter.com/bHf5m9Uppu
Interviewed during DZRH Balansyado, LTFRB Spokesperson Celine Pialago confirmed the agency’s issuance of suspension.
“Ang 90-day preventive suspension is for them to comply and respond in written form kung bakit 'di dapat ma-suspend, ma-cancel, o ma-remove ang kanilang CPC [Certificate of Public Convenience],” she said.
Pialago said that Ceres Bus Liner had suspended its bus units even before the LTFRB issued the 90-day preventive suspension order.
Celine Pialago, Spokesperson, LTFRB, sa mga aksidenteng kinasasangkutan ng Ceres Bus: Ni-retrieve lahat ng files ng Ceres, hindi naman ganoon ka-rami dahil marami silang sister companies. #Balansyado#SamaSamaTayoPilipino
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) December 6, 2023
LIVE:https://t.co/dncmy8OVOU pic.twitter.com/QwlyCeSpDB
According to the LTFRB Spokesperson, Ceres bus drivers will be mandated to attend road safety seminars and be drug tested.
“Itong mga units na nasa listahan ng ating preventive suspension. Lahat ng drivers pa ng nasabing kumpanya in that particular route will have to undergo road-safety seminars at compulsory drug testing. Ito yung mga standard operating procedures everytime magkakaroon ng ganitong aksidente at napupunta sa preventive suspension ang bus company,” she said.
When asked if the Ceres bus will be criminally and administratively liable, Pialago answered: “Of course, they are reliable. Pero kung ito ba ay criminal at administrative, talagang naka-depend tayo sa resulta ng investigation.”
Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao has confirmed that 17 perished after the Ceres bus fell off a cliff on the highway in Brgy. Igbucagay on Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 5.
Seven were critically injured and being treated in a hospital in Iloilo City.
In a statement, Vallacar Transit, Inc. (VTI), the operator of the fallen Ceres bus, vowed to LTFRB that it would cooperate in the probe into the accident.
"VTI has reported the incident to the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board immediately and is willing to cooperate with any investigations they will be conducting," the bus operator said.
