Not only a tragic accident but a tragic disaster. This was how Antique Governor RhodoraCadiao described the dreadful vehicular accident at Brgy. Igbucagay, Hamtic, Antique last December 5, 2023 which killed 17 individuals and injured 11 others.
The incident involved a Ceres bus owned by Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI) with body number 6289.
Antique Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head Broderick Train said the accident happened around 4:30 p.m. while the Ceres bus was on its way to Culasi, Antique from Iloilo City.
The bus went out of control while traversing the curving and downhill road thus overshooting the concrete road barrier and fell off a steep ravine about 70 to 80 feet high.
Cadiao said the tragic disaster is very untimely because the holiday season is coming and the Province of Antique is celebrating the Binirayan Festival which officially opened on December 1, 2023.
“Many Antiqueños will come home to celebrate the Christmas season in their hometown and also many visitors and tourists are expected to visit our province to experience and enjoy our Binirayan Festival. This is very sad not only for all the families of those involved in the accident but also for all of us,” Cadiao said.
The driver identified as Ricky Serios along with his bus conductor Wilmar Felipe Marcelino, and bus inspectors Jose Glenn Fandagani and JevyBurdago were among the fatalities in the accident.
The 13 other passengers who were killed on the spot due to severe injuries were: Tom Elizaga, Jomarie Alcala, Wilber Dellaba, Jim Andrei Secondes, Francis John Vuelga, Nelson Espina, Zairon Alcala (1-2 y.o.), FritzieJavellana, Ramon Enrique Salvani V, Patrick Mosoni, Jeanine Marquez, Federica Singh (Indian national), JevyBurdago, and Jessie Javellana.
Meanwhile, 11 other passengers miraculously survived the accident and currently being treated at hospitals in Antique and Iloilo. They were: Mica Marie Servano of Tobias Fornier, Antique, Mary Beth Santerva of Hamtic, Antique, Lorna Obeja of San Jose, Antique, Christopher Simolava of San Joaquin, Timothy Jones Quiatchon of Laua-an (transferred to Iloilo), Kirby Dominic Jucaban of Mandurriao, transferred to Iloilo, Nicolas Esisi (Kenyan national) transferred to Iloilo, Ismael Amparado – transferred to Iloilo, Arianne Mejia – transferred to Iloilo, Juan Miguel Tejares of San Joaquin, transferred to Iloilo and Kim Zyrin Ramos of Tobias Fornier, transferred to Iloilo.
Rescue groups from Antique PDRRMO and Iloilo City DRRMO along with Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) rescue personnel and the local residents joined forces in rescuing the survivors and retrieving the bodies of the fatalities.
Personnel from the Antique Police Provincial Office also provided security to the area and also provided assistance to the rescuers.
The rescue and retrieval operations lasted until around 2:00 a.m. the following day, December 6.
VTI is a statement expressed “most heartfelt apologies for those who were involved in the incident and expressed sincerest condolences to the bereaved families.”
“VTI’s Branch, Admin, and Maintenance Managers, Operations Personnel, Liaison Officers, and nurses from both the West and East branches were immediately dispatched to the location of the incident to assist the victims,” it added.
VTI also vowed to cooperate with any investigations that the authorities will be conducting.
In addition, VTI decided to voluntarily suspend all operations of the 12 remaining units under the franchise involving Case No. 11-VI-021-AK pending investigation.
“VTI will be providing financial assistance to the passengers and their families, as well as shouldering the medical and burial expenses.
The management has assigned personnel to be on stand-by at the hospital for further updates and assistance.
Rest assured that we are doing everything that we can to make sure that this is being handled properly and carefully.
The management guarantees the riding public that we are taking all the appropriate steps to ensure that our buses are road-worthy and well-maintained,” the VTI statement added.
In a related development, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6 issued a show-cause order to VTI relative to the tragic accident on December 6.
LTFRB-6 legal counsel Atty. Jun Altura said under the said show-cause order, VTI is given 72 hours to explain why they (VTI) will not be penalized in accordance with LTFRB regulations.
Aside from the show-cause order, LTFRB 6 also ordered the preventive suspension for one month of the 12 units under the fleet, where the ill-fated Ceres bus belongs.
