School admin says students in Tanay bus accident not forced to join tour

The administration of Bestlink College of the Philippines (BCP) has clarified that the students who were involved in a road accident in Tanay, Rizal on Monday were not forced to join the tour, contrary to what their parents say.

“We have a letter to the parents kung gusto nila sumama. If not, up to them. Walang forced na nangyari,” Dr. Charlie Cariño, BCP vice president for Academics, said in an Unang Balita report by GMA News’ Mav Gonzales on Tuesday.

At least 15 people were killed in the road accident, 13 of them were students.

An initial investigation said the bus was en-route to a medical and survival training for their National Service Training Program subject when its brakes failed while traversing a curved highway.

According the parents of the students, their children were forced to join the tour or they will flunk the subject.

“Pag hindi papasamahin sasabihin nila ibabagsak tapos 'yung sasakyan hindi [tinitignan] kung maayos,” a mother identified only as Mrs. Pepito, whose son died in the accident, said in a 24 Oras report on Monday.

“Tinatakot nila yung mga estudyante. Sinasabi nila sa mga estudyante hindi daw sasama sa field trip ibabagsak daw sa subject,” added Mr. Pepito, the victim’s father.

The parents of the students stormed Bestlink College of the Philippines in Quezon City on Monday night. They claimed they had been waiting for their children to return since morning, the Unang Balita report on Tuesday said.

“Alas nuwebe pa nangyari. Dapat nung nangyari ‘yun, automatic may nag-rescue na. Pero bakit wala pa anak ko? Umiiyak na anak ko. Nine-nerbiyos na,” Rosario Talingting, one of the parents said.

At around 9:30 p.m., one parent received a call from his child, who said two buses had arrived to bring them home.

However, since nine buses left for Tanay that morning, not everyone could be fit inside the two buses, the student added.

“Sabi ng misis ko, ‘Anak sumakay ka na may dalawang bus na dumating.’ Sabi ng anak ko, ‘Ma, dapat daw kung saan ako sumakay kanina.’ Bus 4 daw siya. ‘Ayaw ako isakay. Di na pwede mamili. Dapat kung sinong makita nila,’” narrated Orlando Frias, one of the parents.

Around 1 a.m. on Tuesday, more than 15 hours after the accident, the students started to arrive at the school.

According to Cariño, the students were indeed secured inside the camp site while they were responding to the accident.

“Basta nasa loob ng camp, sila ay safe. Habang kami inaayos ‘yung accident sa taas, ang ginagawa ng mga bata para maging busy rin nagkaroon ng extra team building,” he said.

The school administration is also considering filing a case against the bus company.

According to the report, it was Haranha Tours whom the school contracted for the tour, and not Panda Coach Tours which was involved in the accident.

“Maganda ang service ng Haranha. Wala kaming problema sa kanila,” Cariño said.

“We do not know kung anong naging arrangement ng Panda at Haranha,” he added.

Meanwhile, nine bodies arrived at Majar Funeral Homes in Novaliches, Quezon City around 2 a.m. on Tuesday.

The school administration said they will shoulder the hospital and funeral parlor expenses for the victims.

Despite the incident, classes were not suspended in Bestlink College of the Philippines, the report said. — Erwin Colcol/RSJ, GMA News