Duterte gives P20-K to Mindoro bus crash victims’ kin

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte checks the condition of Madelyn Bayle who is confined at the San Sebastian District Hospital in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro on March 23, 2018. Odeña was one of the survivors after a Dimple Star bus figured in a road mishap that left 19 dead and 21 wounded at Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro last Tuesday. Joining the President is Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte has given monetary support to families of victims killed in the Dimple Star Bus Transport bus accident in Occidental Mindoro, his spokesperson said Saturday.

“The President gave PHP 20,000 to each family of the deceased and PHP 10,000 plus cellphone for every injured,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press statement.

Roque said that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) also announced that the victims’ families would directly be receiving PHP 200,000 while those injured will receive PHP 20,000 from the Passenger Accident Management and Insurance Agency (PAMI) starting Monday (March 26).

On Friday, Duterte went to Sablayan town in Occidental Mindoro to visit the injured victims of a bus accident and the wake of the fatalities.

Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, earlier said that the President has ordered the arrest of the owner of the Dimple Star bus and those of all “colorum” or illegally operating buses.

Cancellation of franchise

Roque, meanwhile, said that Duterte has also ordered the cancellation of the franchise of Dimple Star.

He said that a hearing has been scheduled on April 18, during which, the LTFRB will initiate the processing of the cancellation.

To date, the LTFRB has already issued a 30-day preventive suspension order covering the entire fleet of Dimple Star, which consists of 118 bus units.

Roque said that Duterte has directed transport officials to ensure the safety of Filipinos traveling to the provinces during his visit to Sablayan town.

He earlier urged drivers and operators to observe extra caution when plying their routes, especially as more people are expected to visit their provinces during the Holy Week and summer vacation.

A Dimple Star Bus fell off a cliff along a national highway in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The bus, with plate number TYU 708, was north bound from San Jose to Abra de Ilog when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle.
The bus fell off a cliff and 19 passengers died while 21 others are injured.