Tado’s widow rejects insurance benefit from Florida bus company

Her head newly shaven in protest, Arvin “Tado” Jimenez's widow Lei took her rage to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board office where she defiantly refused the insurance benefit offered by G.V. Florida Transport.

Lei was offered P150,000 insurance benefit from G.V. Florida Transport Inc. and Philippine Accident Managers Inc. following the Feb. 7 bus crash in Bontoc, Mt. Province.

 

She did not accept the check as a matter of principle, however, explained Ayeen Karunungan of the artist group Dakila which the comedian-activist Tado co-founded.

“Hindi niya tinanggap 'yung tseke kasi parang insulto na magbibigay ka tapos papa-picture ka. Meron siyang ipinaglalaban,” Karunungan told GMA News Online in a phone interview.

Lei was present during the hearing on the incident conducted Wednesday by the LTFRB. 

Earlier in the day, Lei shaved her hair in front of the G.V. Florida Transport bus terminal in Sampaloc, Manila to show her rage for the death of Tado who was among the passengers of the G.V. Florida ill-fated bus that fell into a ravine in Bontoc earlier this month.

 

During the Wednesday hearing, the lawyer of G.V. Florida turned over to the LTFRB the checks representing the insurance benefit for each of the families of the 15 fatalities. 

 

Of the P150,000 amount per check, P100,000 was from G.V. Florida Transport Inc. and P50,000 from PAMI.

Benjamin Sicam, father of musician Andrew David Sicam, one of those who were killed in the accident, personally received the check after the hearing.

 

Sicam said he appreciates the gesture of the bus company but they will still file a case if necessary.

 

“This was voluntary and no strings attached. They assured us that this is only the beginning. It's a voluntary gesture on their part so any assistance would be very welcome for us. We just appreciated the effort, the gesture and the spirit of the assitance because naipaliwanag sa amin na para sa kanila maliit na bagay lang 'yun. At least they tried to help although it would have been better if it was done immediately,” he said.

 

“If there is a necessity for it (filing a case), why not? We are after justice,” Sicam added.

 

He acknowledged that the family of his son is well-taken care of and the medical condition of David's wife, Abby, is improving dramatically.

 

He also thanked others who helped them such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other musicians and artist-friends of David.

The ill-fated bus of GV Florida which fell into a ravine in Bontoc has found to have no permit to operate and no registered license plate. It was thus considered a colorum vehicle and not qualified to claim insurance benefits.

 

Joey Reyes of PAMI said since the victims of the incident are not covered by insurance, they decided to extend financial assistance to the family. —KG, GMA News