The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), is now conducting a thorough investigation into the road crash in Camarines Sur involving a passenger bus that left at least five people dead.

LTFRB chairperson Vigor D. Mendoza II said the agency will issue a show-cause order (SCO) to the bus company to ensure the investigation captures all the circumstances leading to the incident at 3:25 a.m. on 26 December along the Barangay Magais-I, Del Gallego portion of the Andaya Highway.

“We already received a copy of the police report, and it was mentioned there that the driver fell asleep, and this led to the road crash,” Mendoza said.

“So in the hearing, we will go deeper into determining if the proper protocol to ensure the mental and physical readiness of designated drivers was followed in this case,” he added.

This, he said, is in line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.’s instruction to be strict on those who violate road safety regulations.

According to the police report, the DLTB Bus (UYA 479) was traveling from Cubao to Gubat, Sorsogon, when it fell off a cliff approximately 10 meters high.

Five dead from accident

As a result, five died, including a 60-year-old woman and another female passenger.

At least 15 people, including the driver and alternate driver, were seriously injured as a result of the incident. They were taken to a hospital in Tagkawayan, Quezon for treatment.

Initial verification ordered by Chairperson Mendoza revealed the bus is registered under the Del Motor Works, Inc and is covered by a Certificate of Public Conveyance that was granted in 2022 and set to expire in March next year.