Fairview bus passenger set conductor, himself on fire –witness

The fire that ravaged a bus along Commonwealth Avenue on Sunday was caused by a passenger who got into an altercation with the bus' female conductor, according to one of the passengers who witnessed the incident.

The witness said on GMA's "24 Oras Weekend" on Sunday that one of the passengers suddenly accosted the conductor of the bus which started a scuffle between the two.

"Biglang sinugod siya ng lalake, 'yung kaaway niya. Tinulak niya 'yung konduktora paganon, papunta sa dulo. Ngayon, itong babae na konduktora natumba siyang ganon tapos biglang pagtayo, tinulak niya rin 'yung lalake, 'yung kaaway niya," recounted the witness.

"Tapos itong lalake bigla na lang dumukot na may laman na gas. Bigla niyang binuhos unti-unti doon sa babae 'yung laman niya gas, sabay sinilaban niya 'yung babae... Pati 'yung lalake meron na pala. Balak niya siguro magpakamatay, niliyaban niya rin," the witness added.

Both the conductor and the passenger, both of whom were killed, have yet to be identified by authorities.

Meanwhile, the other passengers seated at the back of the bus were able to exit the vehicle through the windows.

"Binuksan ko 'yung pinto, inano ko 'yung mga pasahero na makalabas kaya lang talagang kumapal na 'yung usok sa loob hanggang sa binasag na lang namin 'yung mga bintana dito para 'yung mga nasa dulo na pasahero makalabas," the driver of the bus said. He was not identified in the report.

For its part, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) urged the public to remain on alert when on public transport.

"Lagi po tayong mag-iingat at maging alerto lagi po. At kung saka-sakali man pong magkaroon ng ganito, maging alerto at 'wag ho tayong magdadala ng flammable materials," said Fairview Fire Substation Command Inspector Lyn Mercado. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA News