Suspended after fatal crash, Dagupan Bus defies order

Despite a suspension order imposed after one of its buses figured in one of the worst road crashes of the year, Dagupan Bus Lines' fleet was plying its usual northern routes over the busy holiday weekend, prompting a stern warning from a government regulatory official. After visiting the company's busy terminal in Cubao, the chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Alberto Suansing, on Monday warned Dagupan Bus Lines that there will be consequences after the transport firm ignored his agency’s order suspending its bus operations. "Mananagot yung kumpanya. Eh nasa kanila na ‘yon kung ibabayahe nila. Basta't merong suspension order ‘yan na dapat hindi bibiyahe ang Dagupan Bus Lines," Suansing told GMA News in an exclusive interview. (The company will be held accountable. What’s clear is that there’s a suspension order stating that Dagupan Bus Lines should not operate.) LTFRB grounded Dagupan Bus five days ago after one of its buses fell off the highway and into a ravine in Cauayan, Isabela on October 26. Nine people were killed and over 20 injured. The bus reportedly swerved into the opposite lane, and crashed into oncoming vehicles before falling over the railing.
Dagupan buses have been observed openly plying the busy Cubao-to-Pangasinan, Cubao-to-Baguio, and Manila-to-Tuguegarao routes over the long All Souls’ weekend. One of its suspended buses nearly collided with another vehicle in Nueva Vizcaya last Sunday. Motorist Victor Martin, a Pilipino Star Ngayon (PSN) reporter and resident of Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya traveling northbound with his family, narrated to GMANews.TV how he almost crashed into a Dagupan Bus enroute to Manila that was trying to overtake a pick-up truck at high speed in Bagabag town. Martin said he was forced to jerk his Mitsubishi Delica van to the roadside at the last moment, saving him and his family from becoming another highway statistic. They were on their way to Isabela province on Sunday for the observance of All Souls' Day. “Nag-overtake sa sharp curve ang Dagupan bus kaya sumadsad kami sa gilid, ‘wag sana nila ideny na walang nangyari na ganun. Katatapos lang ng trahedya na sanhi ng bus nila sa Cauayan Isabela tapos eto na naman, muntik na ang pamilya ko," Martin said. He recalled the bus bore body number 178. (They overtook another vehicle along a sharp curve, that’s why I was forced to the road shoulder. They should not deny it. One of their buses just figured in a tragedy in Cauayan, Isabela and now this. I nearly lost my family.) The LTFRB's Suansing stressed that the suspension order covers all franchises of Dagupan Bus, whose "multiple" franchises have more than 100 units. He added that the suspension is preventive and will last while the LTFRB investigates the October 26 incident. When members of the Nueva Vizcaya unit of the Traffic Management Group (TMG) led by SPO2 Reynaldo Rapada flagged down Dagupan passenger buses in Bayombong town, the drivers showed copies of a Motion for Reconsideration supposedly allowing the company to continue plying its routes. Southbound buses with body numbers 186, 124 and 308 were seen by GMANews.TV in Isabela province on Saturday. Suansing said that Dagupan Bus Lines had indeed filed a Motion for Reconsideration of its suspension order but the LTFRB had yet to approve it. Mike Magcala, division inspector supervisor of Dagupan Bus, confirmed to GMANews.TV in a phone interview that some of their buses continue to operate. When asked who gave them the go-signal, he said it was simply the “employees’ initiative." Magcala also explained that they could not just stop operations because “napakaraming pasahero na bumabayahe (there were so many passengers on the road)." Nonetheless, he said the company will start complying with the suspension order starting November 3. However, Suansing said an official of the bus firm told him that the company would follow the suspension order starting Tuesday. He added that the LTFRB ordered Dagupan Bus officials to attend a hearing on November 5 to explain its actions. In a separate text message sent to GMANews.TV, Suansing said he is encouraging motorists and passengers who have gripes against the bus firm to file their complaints before the LTFRB. “We can use their complaints as additional information that we will need in evaluating the capability of the company to operate their units safely," Suansing said. – Aie Balagtas See and Floro Taguinod, GMANews.TV