The government has imposed sanctions against the driver and the operator of an Ayala-bound passenger bus which featured in a Friday morning road accident in Makati City where at least 10 people were seriously hurt.
Authorities discovered that Marlon Nacaytona, 29, the driver of Pitbull Bus with registration plate TYF 328, was tested positive for drug use. He was arrested and now detained at the Makati City Police Traffic Division.
The Land Transportation Office, through its Law Enforcement Service, already issued a show cause order to Nacaytona and the unnamed manager of PBT Pitbull Bus Transport Corp. A preventive suspension order was also issued against the bus driver.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board also imposed sanctions against the owner and operator of the bus company.
Investigation showed that the bus was on its way to Ayala from Manila when it rammed 11 motorcycles, a car and another along the northbound lane of Osmena Highway near Arnaiz Avenue in Barangay Pio del Pilar around 9 a.m.
The collision resulted in the injury of at least 10 people, one of them a Philippine Coast Guard officer, and damaging the motorcycles and vehicles involved.
During police interrogation, Nacaytona claimed the bus lost its brake.
In a statement, the Department of Transportation strongly condemned the incident and described it as reckless and irresponsible driving.
“The DOTr reiterates that it will not hesitate to impose sanctions as warranted against PBT Pitbull Transport Corp. and the bus driver involved in the incident,” the agency stated.
“Let this serve as a warning to all our road transport partners that the DOTr, the LTFRB and LTO will not tolerate this irresponsible and reckless manner of driving which poses danger to life and damage to property,” it added.
The DOTr assured that the full force of the law will be applied to these erring drivers and operators.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority records showed that most road accidents happen because of undisciplined motorists, drunk driving and the use of mobile phones while driving.
