The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Central Visayas has suspended for 30 days the operation of the van-for-hire that figured in an accident at the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX).
LTFRB 7 already sent a show cause order to the cooperative under the jurisdiction of the agency to check if it has adhered with the rules and regulations that ensure roadworthiness of vehicles.
Two passengers died while several others were injured because of the accident on May 4, 2024.
Based on the dashboard camera video seen by the LTFRB 7, the v-hire was indeed overspeeding and traveling on the wrong lane while overtaking the vehicle that captured the incident.
Aside from overspeeding, the v-hire was also found to be overloaded, according to LTFRB 7 Director Eduardo Montealto.
Montealto said road tragedies as such could have been prevented if only safety officers do their job well to ensure the roadworthiness of vehicles. This is also one of the responsibilities of the cooperatives and operators.
Drivers should also have that sense of urgency to notify their cooperatives on mechanical issues involving their units and to always see to it that safety is a priority, he added.
Meanwhile, Land Transportation Office 7 Director Glenn Galario disclosed that they have also carried out a separate investigation.
It was learned that a rear tire of the van exploded that sent the van tipping over several times.
Further, the driver of the van has apologized to the families of passengers killed and injured.
The fatalities were identified as 53-year-old Shirley Bayno of Barangay Babag, Lapu-Lapu City, and a two-year-old child.
Bayno took the van from Lapu-Lapu City in going to Cebu City. She was with her three-year-old grandchild. Bayno hugged reportedly her grandchild tightly when the incident happened. The child survived but is also injured.
Jolina, Bayno’s daughter, said her family has a hard time accepting the tragic incident. Jolina could not help from blaming the driver for overspeeding.
The GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak news team sought comment from the family of the two-year-old child. However, the family refused an interview.
The van driver identified as Christopher Toñacao is now detained at the Cordova Police Station.
He was also injured and has complained of back pains. He said he is waiting for the results of tests he took.
The driver explained that there were 18 regular passengers, but four had tagged along children who had to sit on their companion’s lap.
Toñacao said he lost control of the van after a rear tire exploded.
Toñacao does not own the van nor works for the operator on a regular basis. He said that as an “extrador,” he only drives about three days weekly.
He reiterated that nobody wants accidents to happen.
(with reports from Nikko Sereno/GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak)
