President Duterte orders arrest of Dimple Star transport operator: "Pinahuli ni PRRD operator and pinahuli nya ang lahat ng colorum"

Photo collage from ABS CBN News showing the president visiting some victims of the accident

Following the accident involving Dimple Star Transport on Tuesday which left 19 casualties, President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the arrest of the operator of the said bus company.

The president also visited the accident site in Occidental  Mindoro and paid a visit to the victims of the bus mishap.

According to Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher “Bong” Go, Duterte made the order during his unannounced visit to the site,

“Pinahuli ni PRRD operator and pinahuli nya ang lahat ng colorum (President Duterte ordered to arrest the operator and to seize all colorum public utility vehicles),” Go said in a text message.

“Nationwide. Yes. Tapusin na natin itong problema na ito. Salot sa buhay natin (Let’s end this problem once and for all. This plagues our lives),” Go said.

In a speech, the president reiterated his order to the PNP-HPG saying “beginning tomorrow (sic),all erring drivers and operators should be jailed.

“Kawawa ang Filipino e (The Filipinos are pitiful), and it is really the fault of government,” Duterte said.

“Because it is fraud, and it is a crime, ” the president added

The initial investigation showed that the bus driver lost control of the brakes while traversing the national highway.

On Friday night, Hilbert Naabat, the owner of the bus company surrendered himself to the police accompanied by his lawyer.

“Voluntary silang pumunta dito sa CIDG at nang sa gayon ay napakaaaga natin masisimulan ang dapat natin gagawin para ikakatuwa ng mga nasaktan lalo na ng pamilya ng 19 na namatay,”Roel Obusan, the CIDG Director said.

“Pag-usapan yung mga facts, circumstances na pwede nilang madadala or dala na nila ngayon. Alam naman ninyo yung pagreport nila dito para ipakita na voluntary pagpunta dito at cooperative sila pagpunta rito para maimbestigahan," Obusan said.

"Kapag mamaya ay makita natin na kinakailangan sila i-hold dito iho-hold natin, pero kapag makita natin na kailangan nila umuwi para kumuha ng mga ibang ebidensya...para matapos ang imbestigasyon ay pauuwin natin siguro kasi as of now wala pa tayong kaso na idedemanda sa kanila,” he added. 

Source: Manila Bulletin