Charges filed vs Eso-Nice bus driver over deadly Benguet crash

Charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple serious physical injuries and multiple homicide have been filed late Thursday against the driver of the ill-fated Eso-Nice Bus, which plunged into a ravine in a mountainous town of Benguet province early Wednesday, killing 42 passengers. Driver Romeo Subang Jr. is currently confined in the intensive care unit of the Baguio General Hospital in Baguio City after sustaining injuries and fractures in the crash. While he declined to be interviewed on camera, GMA News’ Steve Dailisan reported in “24 Oras" that Subang asked the victims and their relatives to forgive him for the tragedy. Subang’s wife, who is two months pregnant, said her husband is overcome with fear over the tragic accident, and is aware that it will take long before he is forgiven.
The minibus operated by Eso-Nice Lines plunged into a 100-foot-deep ravine along Naguilian Highway in Barangay Banangan in Sablan town while negotiating a dangerous curve, allegedly because the brakes failed. (See: Police: 40 killed, 9 hurt in Benguet bus crash) Police personnel are now guarding Subang on a 24-hour basis in the hospital, according to authorities. "May 24 hours na nagbabantay sa driver para ma-secure natin, hanggang ma-discharge (siya), kasi makakasuhan nga (siya). Kailangan talaga (siyang) mabantayan," said Senior Inspector Leo Guay, Sablan chief of police. (We’re guarding the driver on a 24-hour basis to secure him until he’s discharged, since he’ll be facing charges. He really needs to be guarded.) Other survivors of the bus crash are likewise being treated in the same Baguio hospital, in a ward just next to where Subang is currently confined, Survivor Arnel Paras, who lost a brother-in-law in the accident, meanwhile recounted the moment before the bus plummeted into the ravine. "Sabi ng driver, ‘Huwag magpanic, huwag magpanic, kaya ko ito’, hanggang sa mahulog sa bangin sa sobrang bilis (The driver told us, ‘Don’t panic, don’t panic, I can do this,’ until our overspeeding bus fell into the ravine)," Paras told GMA News. Eso-Nice, the bus operator, has promised it will pay for the victims’ hospital fees. Survivors will also get P12,000 each while families of the fatalities will receive P60,000 through Unitrans Insurance. "Give us at least one to two days, and we will release the check," said Elizabeth Consolacion, Unitrans Insurance’s regional coordinator, provided that the claimants can present the necessary documents such as death certificate, IDs of the victims and beneficiaries, and birth and marriage certificates. The operations of all Eso-Nice buses have already been suspended. GMA News reported that the owner, identified as Arsenio Monis, now fears for his life but promises to fulfill his obligations to the victims. The company was unable to lift the bus, which still contains the baggage of some of the victims, from the ravine on Thursday as scheduled Bus conductor John Patrick Flores, who likewise survived, meanwhile remains in police custody while the local prosecutor has yet to decide whether to include him in the charges. Three bodies, including those of two women, have yet to be identified and are still in Baguio City’s Funeraria Paz while waiting to be claimed by relatives. Earlier, President Benigno Aquino III ordered the Land Transportation Office and the Philippine National Police’s Highway Patrol Group to speed up its probe on the accident. (See: President Aquino orders swift probe into Benguet bus crash)—Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV