Owner of bus in N. Ecija road crash apologizes, vows financial assistance

The owner of the LeoMarick Trans bus that fell into a ravine in Nueva Ecija last Tuesday has apologized for the accident that left over 30 people dead, and promised to give financial assistance to families of those who died.

"Balitanghali" on Thursday reported that owner Leonardo Patulot apologized for the accident and said no one wished for the tragedy that left over 30 people dead and 46 others wounded.

In behalf of his company, he vowed that families of those who were killed would each get P20,000 in death insurance benefits. 

He also promised to pay for the hospital expenses of those at the Veterans Hospital in Bayombong and at the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Hospital in Bambang.

Also, Patulot said they will look into police findings and witness accounts indicating that the bus was overloaded.

A police official said on Wednesday that during the crash, the LeoMarick bus had 77 passengers, exceeding its 45-person load capacity.

Survivors said the brakes of the bus failed after one of its front wheels burst, causing it to fall into the ravine. —Rie Takumi/LBG, GMA News