Tado’s wife shows her rage by shaving head in front of Florida bus terminal

By AMANDA FERNANDEZ, GMA News

Published February 19, 2014 7:23am

(Updated 12:08 p.m.) The wife of comedian Tado Jimenez was noticeably silent in public in the days after her husband and 14 others died in the Florida bus crash on February 7.

Lei Jimenez broke her silence in dramatic fashion Wednesday morning by shaving her head in protest in front of the G.V. Florida Transport bus terminal in Sampaloc, Manila.

In a statement, Lei said she shaved her hair as an expression of her rage towards what she perceives as grave injustice done to her family and the families of the other victims

“This unfortunate loss of so many lives was caused by the irresponsibility of the GV Florida Bus Lines and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). They should be made accountable and justice should be served to the victims and their families," Lei said.

"Hustisya, hustisya, para sa mga biktima ng Florida," members of Tado's group Dakila chanted as Lei had her head shaved in front of a near-empty bus terminal.

Tado, also an activist, was killed when the bus he and other artists were riding fell into a ravine in Mountain Province nearly two weeks ago. He was on his way to Bontoc to begin a personal project to climb 40 mountains during his 40th year and write a book about it.

No personnel from Florida Transport

Aside from onlookers and media, only a security guard was present, but kept his distance from the group.

A private car was also parked inside the terminal, however, no personnel or officer from the bus company met the group.

When asked why Lei chose to shave her head as protest, Kate Lim, Dakila group member and spokesperson for the event, said this is in tribute to her late husband, who was known to have long hair, stressing that Tado would have done the same if he were alive.

Shaving of heads have become a sign of protest or to show solidarity for a cause in the country and all over the world.

In 2009, 56 farmers shaved their heads to protest the continued delay in the passage of a bill that seeks to extend the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Just last year, former United States President George H.W. Bush shaved off his head in solidarity with a leukemia patient, Patrick, the two-year-old son of a member of his Secret Service detail.

LTFRB should also be held responsible

Lim said that aside from the bus company, the LTFRB should also be held responsible for their failure to properly implement rules and regulations.

"Una sa lahat, dahil sa kanila nanggagaling ang ating permits at sila ang dapat nag-eensure na ma-implement ang ating rules and policies, kaya kasama rin sila. Lahat dapat maging accountable sa naging kasong ito na maibunyag at mailabas sa publiko," she explained.

On the other hand, Lim said the family of Tado has yet to receive financial help from the bus company.

'Running priest' calls for justice

After the protest action, "running priest" Fr. Robert Reyes, who claimed to have just passed by the area, said a prayer for justice for all the lives lost and the loved ones left behind.

"Nakakasama ko [magprotesta] sa kalye [si Tado]," he said. "Napadaan lang ako, pero baka tinatawag ako ni Tado na pumunta dito... Kasi tuwing dumadaan ako sa Florida, nagagalit ako," Reyes said.

"Sa ngayon, hindi muna ako sasakay hangga't hindi ko mabalitaan na ang tulong sa asawa ni Tado ay mabibigay," he promised.

He also noted that instead of compensation, the bus company should provide financial help to the family for the next 10 years.

"Kapag may namatay na breadwinner, hindi mo lang bibigyan ng compensation, kung ano ang kinikita ng breadwinner na iyon para sa pamilya niya, i-declare ng misis at sasabihin sa korporasyon, 'eto ang dapat ibigay mo sa'kin for the next 10 years until I recover.' Kasi kung mawalan ka ng breadwinner, you know what it means," he said.

Together with supporters of Tado, Lei proceeded to the LTFRB office for the hearing scheduled at 9 a.m.

Charges of multiple homicide and physical injuries will be filed against Florida Transport, an earlier report said.

Lim, however, declined to comment when asked if the family of Tado has decided to pursue filing of charges against the bus operator.

Last week, Leni Velasco, the Jimenez family's spokesperson, mentioned that the family was mulling whether to file charges.

“Sa ngayon, lahat pinag-aaralan pa. Alam naman natin 'yung advocacy ni Tado na isa road safety... so itong hakbang na gagawin ng pamilya kailangan i-consider kung ano ba talaga ang pagtingin ni Tado," she said.

Bus company reacts

When asked for a reaction regarding the activity held in front of the terminal, Alex Versoza, lawyer of G.V. Florida Transport, said on Wednesday they respect Lei's protest.

"That is freedom of expression, right to free speech guaranteed by the Constitution. Nakikiramay kami sa kanila at sa panig ng kompanya ay inaayos namin ang benefits para sa mga naging biktima," he told GMA News Online after the hearing at the LTFRB office on Wednesday.

LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez announced Wednesday after the hearing on the tragedy that each of the families of the 15 fatalities will receive P150,000—P100,000 from G.V. Florida Transit and P50,000 from the Insurance Company.

Ginez added there are no strings attached to the money. Families can still file a case against the bus company should they want to, even after receiving the money.

Meanwhile, all 228 buses of G.V. Florida Transport are still not plying the nation's highways after the LTFRB imposed on Feb. 8 a 30-day preventive suspension on the entire fleet. —With a report from Amita O. Legaspi/KG/RSJ/HS, GMA News

Tags: tadojimenez, floridabuscrash