By Aaron Recuenco The families of the 19 people who died in a bus accident in Occidental Mindoro have received P200,000 each from the insurance provider of the Dimple Star bus. The wreckage of the Dimple Star bus which figured in a road mishap that left 19 dead and 21 wounded at Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro last Tuesday lies just beside the Patrik bridge.
(ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Bong Nocum of the Passenger Accident Insurance and Management Inc (PAMI), said that his company also gave P20,000 to each of the injured passengers to cover medicine and hospital expenses. “We personally gave the money to the relatives of the victims who died. On the part of those injured, the money was given to them in the hospitals where they are confined,” said Nocum. It was recalled that the Dimple Star bus skidded off the road and eventually fell to a deep ravine in Sablayan town last week. The driver, the conductor and 13 passengers died on the spot while four others died in the hospital. The bus was believed to have lost its brakes before it rammed the railings of the bridge. The bus accident resulted in the crackdown on colorum passenger vehicles as ordered by President Duterte. Nocum was quick to clarify that there were no strings attached on the distribution of insurance which totaled P4.2 million, saying the victims could still pursue the charges against the Dimple Star Management. “We did not ask for any documents for the release of the insurance to the victims because our insurance coverage covers all risks and all faults,” said Nocum. It was learned that Martin Delgra III, chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB), instructed the insurance firm of the Dimple Star bus to attend to the needs of the victims. “We know that the money is not enough compared to the loss of lives but we are hoping that the insurance payment could somehow help the relatives as to their expenses,” said Nocum. For his part, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Director Roel Obusan said that CIDG is currently conducting case build-up against the management of the Dimple Star bus. It was recalled that the owners of the Dimple Star yielded to the CIDG after President Duterte ordered their arrest. But the owners were released later.