Jay Lagare

Yesterday, a bus fell off from the Skyway, an elevated expressway, and onto a van below. Eighteen people were killed and many injured. The of operations of the bus company involved was immediately suspended. Unfortunately, it turns out that this bus company already has a history of accidents. So what happened during those previous accidents and ostensibly suspensions? Somehow I suspect it involves money changing hands and the bus company going on with it merry (and deadly) way?

Then there’s supposedly talk of a plan to review the design of the Skyway because of the incident. Leaving no stones unturned. That’s all good. But it’s so ridiculous even mentioning this when obviously the likelier combination of factors are:

1. Vehicle condition – public utility companies are notorious for keeping dilapidated vehicles (or should it be keeping vehicles dilapidated?) in their quest for maximizing profits. I won’t even expect their doing proper pre-flight on vehicles. If there’s one thing that screams for regulation, this is it. But what is the LTFRB doing?
2. Driver – both qualification (trained and certified?) and readiness (enough sleep? not drunk or high?). What is the bus company doing? Again, I’m not expecting this but is it properly screening drivers during hiring? Is it providing  proper training? Is it properly vetting drivers as part of pre-flight?
3. Speed – you’d think those buses are lumbering and slow. I drive close to the limit at expressways but I’m always amazed at how buses can keep up with me and in  cases even overtake me. In this particular case, a witness reported that the bus traveling at around 100kph, much faster than the 80kph limit for buses at expressways. And this was when the conditions were wet.

BTW Neither Aquino nor Roxas were at the scene. Not that I want them to be. It’s just that they were at the SM robbery scene where nobody was really seriously hurt or even killed (which is good). Curious.

There was a jewelry heist at SM North EDSA yesterday. If that sounds familiar, it is because there was a similar jewelry heist earlier this year at SM Mega Mall. As in the previous incident, the police immediately suspected gang called martilyo (hammer) gang. Because, you guessed it, hammers were supposedly used. Brilliant sleuthing huh?

Actually, the police at least knows that more than just hammers were used (wrenches, crowbars). But hey it’s easier and more sensational to call them martilyo gang than “hammer, wrench, crowbar gang” (too complicated) or “glass breaker gang” (hmmmm I kinda like this one) or just “robbery gang” (now that’s just plain boring).

I’m not sure if the police knows who the leader or members of such gangs are. They’re certainly not sharing it with the media. For security reasons. Or maybe they just don’t know, hopefully, yet. I know it’s not an easy job but certainly declaring that hammers won’t be sold (at least in the normal way) anymore couldn’t help your your image of brilliance any.

BTW I’m so glad to see (NOT!) that President BS Aquino and DILG Secretary Mar Roxas are on top of the situation. They even immediately visited the scene of the crime. If only they are as on top of the situation (in reality, and not just in their dreams) of the ongoing Yolanda calamity.