LTFRB probes PWD mauling; says to issue resolution soon

MANILA -- The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) conducted a hearing on Wednesday, June 25 on the mauling of a PWD while plying the EDSA Busway in Buendia earlier this month. 

Bus driver Mark Ivan Ramos and bus conductor Francis Sauro, who showed up to the hearing, were accompanied by their legal counsel Atty. Alexander Versoza.

According to Ramos, he did not know that the PWD passenger was already being attacked.

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"Ang akala ko sir, hinihila lang pababa. Hindi ko po alam na binubugbog na pala, nagtayuan na po yung mga tao - dun ko na lang sa video nalaman," he said.

"May sumigaw na pasahero na kinagat daw siya... Sinabihan ko agad yung coductor na magsumbong sa Coast Guard," Ramos added.

Meanwhile, Sauro denied having a taser gun allegedly used against the victim.

"Hindi ko po nakita nag-taser eh….hindi ko po rin narinig. Nalaman na lang ho namin sa video talaga na meron pa lang pananakit na ganon,” said Sauro.

Both Ramos and Sauro admitted during the hearing that they did not inform their employer about this incident.

Precious Grace operations manager Romeo Caguin explained that they only learned about the incident on June 12 after Land Transportation Office (LTO) personnel went to their office for investigation.

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According to Atty. Versoza, his clients did not notice that the victim was a PWD. 

"No ticket was issued... From the physical appearance, no disability was notice[d],” Versoza said.

Versoza said that while their bus units are equipped with CCTV cameras, the video recording during the June 9 incident is no longer be available.  

“Mayron [CCTV]. The problem again is the memory is good only for 72 hours. I agree, sayang, napakadali sana kung nandiyan pa yung memory…Ito naman yung challenge ko ngayon, nag-imbestiga din dito ang DOTr. 'Di ba ang EDSA tadtad ng (sa labas), so makikita sa CCTV na yung konduktor bumaba na nagsumbong,” Versoza told reporters.

LTFRB gave the respondent 15-days to submit its position paper. The case is submitted for resolution.