LTFRB: Suspension of 2 Joanna Jesh routes in Metro effective Wednesday

MANILA, Philippines – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday clarified that only two routes of a transport company involved in a bloody accident along EDSA Tuesday was suspended. In an interview over radio dzBB, LTFRB chief Thompson Lantion said Joanna Jesh's Alabang to Navotas and Alabang to Fairview routes were suspended, and not the bus company's franchise. He said the suspension order will be effective Wednesday. "Nagbigay kami ng kautusan, ngayong umaga ihahain sa kanila ang order... Pinirmahan ko na yan. Ngayong umaga inutusan ko ang executive director ipaabot ang cease and desist order (The order will be issued to the firm today. I just signed it. I ordered our executive director this morning to furnish the firm a copy of the cease and desist order)," said Lantion. Lantion said that if Joanna Jesh ignores the order, the LTFRB will suspend the company's franchise. "Pag di po sinunod tutuloy na buong prangkisa tatanggalan (If they will not comp;y, then we will revoke its franchise)," Lantion said. Joanna Jesh officials will also be summoned to appear before an LTFRB hearing into the accident on October 28, added Lantion. Lantion said the suspension applies to only one of the bus firm's two lines, adding that the bus firm's line involving buses that go to Iloilo and Boracay via roll-on-roll-off (RORO) vessels can still operate. "Di naman involved yan (It was not involved in Tuesday's mishap)," he said. Police said Francisco Sarabia, a prominent doctor, was killed when a Joanna Jesh bus slammed into his Mercedes Benz sedan at the northbound portion of Edsa near the Santolan Station of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT). Sarabia's body was charred when his car burst into flames. His passenger, Henny Garcia, was rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) and was transferred to the St. Luke's Medical Center. Also injured were conductor Salvador de Guzman, 44, of Joanna Jesh bus; Ligaya de Guzman; and another bus conductor identified as Laurentino Bedino. Police said two Joanna Jesh buses and one from Commuter Liner were allegedly speeding. All three bus drivers are now under police custody. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV