No insurance coverage for car crash victims

CEBU, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 has issued a show cause order with preventive suspension yesterday against Inner J Tourist Transport, the operator of the van that crashed in Alegria town causing multiple deaths, multiple serious physical injuries and damage to properties.

LTFRB-7 Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon directed the operator to submit within 72 hours from receipt of the order their written explanation why no disciplinary action shall be taken against the operation of J Tourist Transport.

The incident that caused the death of seven passengers and serious injuries of three others could lead to the suspension or cancellation of certificate of public convenience.

LTFRB has scheduled the hearing on January 31.

Cuizon also revealed that the vehicle with plate number AED 1299 is owned by barangay captain Joseph Pangatungan of Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City contrary to reports that the one driving, Gilbert Dela Cruz, also owned the vehicle.

Cuizon said the insurance for passengers has expired on December 13 last year and was not renewed.

"So meaning ani kay wala may insurance, ang operator ang mogasto sa tanan nga galastuhan," said Cuizon. (This means that since there is no insurance, the operator will shoulder all the expenses in the hospital and funeral parlor.)

Cuizon further said that the van was not converted from being a private vehicle to a van-for-hire.

LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra, who was in Cebu yesterday for a meeting, went to a morgue of St. Peter along Imus New Road in Cebu City where the bodies of the seven victims are kept to say some prayers.

Meanwhile, Police Senior Insp. Efren Diaz Jr., Alegria Police Station chief, clarified reports that two of the three injured victims died in the hospital.

He said the information relayed to the media by one of his personnel was inaccurate.

PO3 Eduard Bellarre, investigator of the case, said that he visited the victims at the hospital Sunday and they are already conscious.

Last Saturday noon, the van boarded by 10 balikbayan doctors and nurses who were set to conduct a free medical mission on Camiguin Island yesterday met an accident after the driver fell asleep and hit a mahogany tree along the national highway in Barangay Legaspi, Alegria.

They had a whale shark watching in Oslob and were on their way to Kawasan Falls in Badian when the accident happened.

Seven victims were declared dead on arrival in the hospital while three were confined.  Dela Cruz, who suffered minor injuries in his feet, is now in the custody of Alegria Police.

He will be facing complaints of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and physical injuries. (FREEMAN)