Ceres bus driver to face reckless driving raps

The Ceres bus that crashed on its right side was examined by curious passersby after it was turned upright. (PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE FACEBOOK PAGE OF MARQUEE LUZANO)

None of the 30 or more accident victims want to file a complaint against the Ceres bus driver whose wife and daughter were killed in Monday’s crash in Badian town, said police.

With this, driver Erwin Gerson, who is in police custody, was charged only with reckless driving.

P02 Bismarck Babiera said the offense filed with the Moalboal Municipal Circuit Trial Court was light and that Gerson may get off with a P300 fine if he would admit to the charges.

He said the police went around approaching the victims, more than 30, but they refused to press charges.

The police was supposed to file charges of reckless imprudence resulting in double homicide and multiple physical injuries, a standard complaint in serious motor vehicle accidents.

The management of the Ceres bus line paid for medical bills of injured passengers and persuaded victims and their families to agree to a settlement.

The accident claimed the lives of Gerson’s wife Marlyn and 5-year-old daughter Geralyn, who were sitting in the front of the bus.

Standard insurance coverage entitles the family of fatalities to receive P75,000 each while each injured victim will receive P15,000.

Gerson tested positive for alcohol use after the incident although he insisted he was not drunk.

Some passengers said the couple were quarreling during the bus ride.

PO2 Babiera said Marlyn’s sister in Mandaue City told police the family decided not to file charges because the Ceres bus management paid for medical and funeral expenses.

“We can’t do anything because they are the nominal complainant and they’re not interested,” Babiera said.

Babiera said police went to the Badian district hospital and talked to patient Edwin Batomalaque, who also refused to file charges because the Ceres bus management already shouldered the medical expenses.

Babiera said Ceres bus management even assured to pay the patient who lost money after being confined in the hospital.

At a hospital in Alegria, 71-year old Isidro Manaba also told them that the Ceres took care of his hospital expenses.

“Dili na kuno siya mokiha kay basin dili na siya bayran (I won’t press charges because they might not pay,” Babiera quoted Manaba as saying.

Babiera said they tried to visit the hospital in Malabuyoc.

But the six patients there were transferred to a private hospital in Cebu City upon instructions of the Ceres bus management.

Babiera said they just issued a TOP (Temporary Operators Permit) for the driver and the apprehension report is now forwarded to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Carcar City.

Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said the families of the fatalities and the injured passengers will receive insurance.

Cuizon said the insurance provider Passenger Accident Management Insurance (PAMI) told them that they will initially release P40,000 each for the fatalities and the remaining P35,000 will be released after all the documents are submitted.

The hearing of the show cause order against the Ceres bus company was also held yesterday in which the company was asked to explain on why the bus’s franchise shouldn’t be canceled.