Driver of Joanna Jesh bus in viral video may lose job

The driver of a bus that sideswiped orange plastic barriers along EDSA may lose his job.

GMA News' Mark Salazar reported on Balitanghali that according to Jakes Duyangco, operations manager of Joanna Jesh Transport Corp., their driver Ruel Labin has been suspended for 30 days pending an internal investigation.

Salazar added that according to Duyangco, they will "most likely" fire Labin for reckless driving.

Labin was the driver of the Joanna Jesh bus that was seen on a viral video sideswiping several orange plastic barriers along EDSA.

The video was recorded on a dashcam of private car owner Ian Santos.

Labin claimed he was driving at a speed of only 40 to 45 kph, but the bus company does not believe this, saying it was very clear on the video that he was speeding and racing with another passenger bus when he hit the orange plastic barriers.

Earlier in the day, Labin denied to Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board official Ariel Inton that he was a reckless driver.

Labin told Inton that he accidentally hit the plastic barriers because he avoided another passenger bus.

License suspended

Meanwhile, Land Transportation Office spokesperson Jason Salvador said that they are seriously considering revoking the professional driver's license of Labin.

Salvador said that it was clear in the viral video that Labin was reckless.

Before Labin went to the LTFRB, he denied to GMA News that he was a reckless driver.

He also denied that he tried to escape after the accident, saying he parked the bus along EDSA and was even issued a traffic violation ticket by an enforcer of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

Labin added that he even helped in rearranging the toppled plastic barriers.

The bus company said that they will take full responsibility for the incident. —with Jessica Bartolome/ALG/KBK, GMA News