Duterte orders arrest of Dimple Star Transport operator
Published Mar 23, 2018 04:58 pm
By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
President Duterte has ordered the arrest of the operator of Dimple Star Transport following the deadly crash in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro late Tuesday which left 19 casualties.
President Duterte together with LTFRB chief Martin Delgra III and SAP Bong Go visit the site of a bus accident in Occidental Mindoro which left 19 dead. (SAP / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher "Bong" Go, Duterte made the order during his unannounced visit to the the site of the accident Friday afternoon.
"Pinahuli ni PRRD operator and pinahuli nya ang lahat ng colorum (President Duterte ordered to arrest the operator and to seize all colorum public utility vehicles)," Go said in a text message to Malacañang reporters.
According to Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chief Martin Delgra III, Duterte's campaign against all types of public utility vehicles with no franchise covers a nationwide scope as the President was angered by the number of casualties in the said accident. Go also confirmed this in another text message sent Friday evening.
"Nationwide. Sa dami namatay, Galit (The President was angry because many died)," Delgra, who joined Duterte in his visit, said in a text message.
"Nationwide. Yes. Tapusin na natin itong problema na ito. Salot sa buhay natin (Let's end this problem once and for all. This plagues our lives)," Go said.
Duterte, in a speech in Davao City Friday evening, reiterated his order to the PNP-HPG, saying "beginning tomorrow (sic)," all drivers and operators should be jailed. Saying their vehicles have no insurance.
However, Duterte said in Bisaya that the government is also to blame for allowing "fraudulent" PUVs to travel.
"Kawawa ang Filipino e (The Filipinos are pitiful), and it is really the fault of government," Duterte said.
"Because it is fraud, and it is a crime, " he added.
Away from the prying eyes of the media, Duterte made an unannounced visit to the site in Occidental Mindoro and to the wake of some of the casualties. He also paid a visit to those recuperating in the hospital.
No other details were given to Malacañang reporters as of press time.
Duterte's visit to Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro was not part of his official Friday schedule which only showed his attendance to two events in Davao City at 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.
In photos shared by Go to Palace reporters, Duterte was seen talking some officials of the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG). The President was assisted by Go and Delgra.
Malacañang had earlier vowed justice for the victims of the deadly crash, but said that it would be better to wait for the investigation of the authorities to finish.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque also raised the possibility that the LTFRB may have accountability over the accident after it was reported that the bus plunged into the ravine due to a possible brake failure.
Roque acknowledged that the LTFRB has a duty to regularly inspect if public utility vehicles are being maintained. He said that if the LTFRB had lapses, someone would surely be fired.
"Antayin muna natin kung ano talaga ang magiging resulta ng imbestigasyon. Kung ito po ay resulta ng kapabayaan ng mga taong gobyerno, siyempre po, meron na namang masisibak (Let us wait for the result of the investigation. If it is proven that the accident was a result of government lapses, then someone will surely get fired)," he said Thursday.
"Pero sa ngayon po, nagpaparating lang po kami ng pakikiramay sa mga pamilya ng mga nasawi. Darating po tayo sa punto na bibigyan natin ng katarungan ang mga nasawi (But for now, we extend our condolences to the families of the victims. We will come to the time where we will give justice for them)," he added.
He, however, reminded the LTFRB of their duty to conduct regular inspection of public utility vehicles to prevent accidents from happening.
President Duterte together with LTFRB chief Martin Delgra III and SAP Bong Go visit the site of a bus accident in Occidental Mindoro which left 19 dead. (SAP / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher "Bong" Go, Duterte made the order during his unannounced visit to the the site of the accident Friday afternoon.
"Pinahuli ni PRRD operator and pinahuli nya ang lahat ng colorum (President Duterte ordered to arrest the operator and to seize all colorum public utility vehicles)," Go said in a text message to Malacañang reporters.
According to Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chief Martin Delgra III, Duterte's campaign against all types of public utility vehicles with no franchise covers a nationwide scope as the President was angered by the number of casualties in the said accident. Go also confirmed this in another text message sent Friday evening.
"Nationwide. Sa dami namatay, Galit (The President was angry because many died)," Delgra, who joined Duterte in his visit, said in a text message.
"Nationwide. Yes. Tapusin na natin itong problema na ito. Salot sa buhay natin (Let's end this problem once and for all. This plagues our lives)," Go said.
Duterte, in a speech in Davao City Friday evening, reiterated his order to the PNP-HPG, saying "beginning tomorrow (sic)," all drivers and operators should be jailed. Saying their vehicles have no insurance.
However, Duterte said in Bisaya that the government is also to blame for allowing "fraudulent" PUVs to travel.
"Kawawa ang Filipino e (The Filipinos are pitiful), and it is really the fault of government," Duterte said.
"Because it is fraud, and it is a crime, " he added.
Away from the prying eyes of the media, Duterte made an unannounced visit to the site in Occidental Mindoro and to the wake of some of the casualties. He also paid a visit to those recuperating in the hospital.
No other details were given to Malacañang reporters as of press time.
Duterte's visit to Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro was not part of his official Friday schedule which only showed his attendance to two events in Davao City at 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.
In photos shared by Go to Palace reporters, Duterte was seen talking some officials of the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG). The President was assisted by Go and Delgra.
Malacañang had earlier vowed justice for the victims of the deadly crash, but said that it would be better to wait for the investigation of the authorities to finish.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque also raised the possibility that the LTFRB may have accountability over the accident after it was reported that the bus plunged into the ravine due to a possible brake failure.
Roque acknowledged that the LTFRB has a duty to regularly inspect if public utility vehicles are being maintained. He said that if the LTFRB had lapses, someone would surely be fired.
"Antayin muna natin kung ano talaga ang magiging resulta ng imbestigasyon. Kung ito po ay resulta ng kapabayaan ng mga taong gobyerno, siyempre po, meron na namang masisibak (Let us wait for the result of the investigation. If it is proven that the accident was a result of government lapses, then someone will surely get fired)," he said Thursday.
"Pero sa ngayon po, nagpaparating lang po kami ng pakikiramay sa mga pamilya ng mga nasawi. Darating po tayo sa punto na bibigyan natin ng katarungan ang mga nasawi (But for now, we extend our condolences to the families of the victims. We will come to the time where we will give justice for them)," he added.
He, however, reminded the LTFRB of their duty to conduct regular inspection of public utility vehicles to prevent accidents from happening.