By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz
MANILA – Public utility bus (PUB) operator Precious Grace Transport will be summoned to explain the assault of a person with disability (PWD) by a bus conductor and some passengers, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said Friday.
In a statement, LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said the incident was caught on video and went viral on social media after it occurred inside one of the buses of PGT that ply the Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) Busway.
According to an initial investigation by the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Surveillance and Action Information Coordinating Team (SAICT), the bus was registered with license plate no. NDQ 2615, driven by Mark Ivan Ramos, with conductor Francis Sauro.
Guadiz said the SCO would be issued in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to protect vulnerable commuters and ensure accountability among public utility vehicle (PUV) operators.
He said PGT would have to explain why their CPC should not be suspended or revoked after the incident.
“We will not tolerate any act of violence, discrimination, or abuse, especially against persons with disability. Public utility operators are duty-bound to ensure the safety and dignity of all passengers,” he said.
In addition, the LTFRB ordered a 30-day suspension against 10 bus units of the company operating in the EDSA Bus Carousel.
“The DOTr, through the LTFRB and with the assistance of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and SAICT and Coast Guard-Investigation and Detection Management Service (CG-IDMS), is now coordinating with the bus company’s management to secure full cooperation from the identified personnel,” he said.
An investigation is underway to gather testimonies and verify the authenticity of the video footage.
“The LTFRB assures the public that swift and appropriate sanctions will be imposed,” he said.
He reminded PUV operators and commuters that any acts that violate the rights of passengers, especially against the most vulnerable, will face “serious consequences, as the administration continues to champion safe, dignified, and inclusive public transport for all.” (PNA)
