Three killed in NLEX bus accident; probe ongoing

At least three people were reported killed while 21 were hurt after a bus they were riding figured in an accident on a portion of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Saturday afternoon. The incident prompted authorities to consider imposing a 30-day preventive suspension of operations of the bus firm involved, radio dzBB's Paulo Santos reported early Sunday. The report quoted Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) board member Manuel Iway as saying the bus firm will be asked to give its side of the incident on Monday. Iway said the firm will have to explain why its franchise should not be canceled for the incident, according to a report by dzBB's Paulo Santos. He also said the drivers and conductors of the bus firm will have to undergo retraining while the driver will have to undergo drug tests. A separate report on dzXL radio said the Saulog bus (DZN-467) rammed an 18-wheeler truck at Malis village in Guiguinto in Bulacan province. Dead on arrival at the Bulacan Polymedic Hospital were Candice Bondoc, 20; and Jehosheva Medina, 32. A third fatality was a woman described as 40 to 45 years old. Some 21 passengers were rushed to the Bulacan Provincial Hospital. They were in stable condition, the dzXL report said. The bus driver, initially identified as Lordi Parangat, was placed under the custody of the Guiguinto police. He faces charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide. — LBG, GMA, News