‘Operator liable if van which crashed in Camiguin colorum’

By JIGGER JERUSALEM
Correspondent .

THE operator and driver of the van that crashed killing three passengers in the process in Camiguin on June 22 could be held liable if it can be proven that the vehicle has no permit as a for-hire vehicle issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, an official of the LTFRB in Northern Mindanao said.

The van was carrying a group of call center workers and their loved ones from Davao City when it lost the brake that instantly killed three persons and injuring 13 others in Sitio Quipasa, Barangay Poblacion in Mambajao town in Camiguin on Saturday afternoon.

Police authorities identified the fatalities as Julie Ann Mae Oliva, Jovert de Asis, and Ian Jumahali.

“If they hired the van and the passengers paid for its services, then the liability lies on the owner and the driver,” said LTFRB-10 regional director Aminoden Guro.

Guro said a vehicle is considered “colorum” if it has no LTFRB-issued franchise and yet it provides services to the riding public.

In the event a public utility vehicle (PUV) figures in a road accident and there are casualties, the families of a killed passenger may receive about P400,000, if it is covered by the Passenger Accident Management and Insurance Agency (Pami).

An injured passenger can also avail of a P20,000 medical reimbursement if the PUV is under the Pami coverage.

According to a police report, the White Toyota Hi-Ace van was owned by the Cavalier Security Agency Inc. based in Davao City.

Guro said they are still waiting for the result of the investigation to determine if the van was lent to the passengers or they hired it for their trip to Camiguin.

Following the incident, Guro said Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio called up her local contacts who in turn got in touch with him to inquire about the accident.

Guro said he contacted his counterpart at the LTFRB in Davao and found out that the van was not a PUV.

Capt. Arnold Gaabucayan, for his part, said they have filed a complaint against the van’s driver Joy Sobremisana for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.

Outgoing Mambajao mayor and Camiguin governor-elect Jurdin Jesus Romualdo said the bodies of those who died have already been brought back to their respective hometowns and those who are still recuperating at the Camiguin Provincial Hospital are being taken care of until they can fully recover.