By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz
MANILA – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) temporarily suspended eight buses operated by Pangasinan Five Star Bus, Inc. (Five Star) after one of its buses got involved in a fatal collision in Isabela province on June 11, 2026.
In a statement on Tuesday, LTFRB Chair Vigor Mendoza II said the road crash resulted in the death of a pedestrian walking along the national highway in front of the Santiago City Medical Center when a Five Star bus driver lost control of the vehicle.
“We express our sincerest condolences to the family of the victim. We understand the pain of that loss, and we in the LTFRB would like to assure the family that we will exhaust all measures in the interest of justice and accountability,” Mendoza said.
The incident also injured two bus passengers, and the bus also hit a pickup truck that was traveling on the opposite side of the road.
In a show-cause order, the LTFRB ordered Five Star to explain in writing why its Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) should not be suspended or revoked over the incident.
The bus driver in the incident will also be subjected to a mandatory drug test, while all eight buses suspended will be inspected for roadworthiness.
The investigation, he said, seeks to determine whether Five Star is properly observing road safety rules, with the hearing set on July 7.
He also asked the bus company to facilitate the payment of insurance to the lone fatality and the two injured victims. (PNA)
