The driver of the Partas bus that collided with ABS-CBN’s van, resulting in the death of young actor AJ Perez, posted temporary bail April 19.Julie Brillantes posted a P15,000 cash bond at the Tarlac Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of Moncada, Tarlac. Moncada Municipal Circuit Trial Court approved his request for a reduced bail bond, which was originally pegged at P30,000. Brillantes is facing cases of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide, multiple physical injuries and damage to properties.
In the interview aired on “24 Oras,” Brillantes pleaded the public to spare him from the blame for the accident that took Perez’s young life.
“Sana naman ‘wag nila akong sisihin sa pangyayaring ‘yon kasi talagang wala akong alam doon dahil ginawa ko lahat ng pag-iwas pero gano’n pa rin....sumabit siya,” he said on GMA-7’s primetime newscast.
Perez was on his way back to Manila on an ABS-CBN van when it collided with the Partas bus in Moncada, Tarlac. Initial reports say that Bautista overtook a ten-wheeler truck before it was hit by the Partas bus.
Brillantes explained he was not driving at full speed when the accident happened, otherwise “gugulong talaga ‘yon (van) ‘pag nabunggo ko kung mabilis ang takbo. Eh sa liit (ng van)... eh, ang laki nu’ng bumunggo. Naibaba ko sa shoulder dahil nag-menor na nga ako. Naibaba ko. Kung hindi ko naibaba sa shoulder, sigurado ang tama noon mukhang-mukha, kung hindi ko naitabi ang sasakyan ko."
Atty. Roberto Carpela, lawyer of Partas Transport, reported that “isa-subject namin si Mr. Brillantes sa disciplinary committee para i-determine kung meron nga ba siyang liability doon sa aksidenteng nangyari.”
To avoid the same incident from happening in the future, C/Insp. Augusto Pasamonte of Moncada Police gave tips to a safe travel, especially during this Holy Week break.
“Before na mag-overtake ka, dapat clear. ‘Yung wala ka bang masasalubong. Kung naka-convoy ka naman, ‘yung kalkulasyon mo na mahihila ka sa likod dapat ‘yung lead car dapat alam niyang makakapasok din,” Pasamonte said.
The arraignment of the cases of the ABS-CBN driver and the Partas bus driver is scheduled on May 2.
Meanwhile, LTFRB slapped a 30 day preventive suspension on the Partas bus that collided with ABS-CBN’s van when usually, the office slaps suspension order on all bus units of the transport company that figures in an accident. LTFRB Chairman Atty. Nelson Laluces explained his office’s leniency on the matter.
“Ayaw lang kasi namin na... eto nga we issue special permits just to accommodate the passengers tapos biglang magsu-suspend kami ng so many bus units na mapa- paralyze din ‘yung operation; [and] not only ‘yung operation, ’yung passengers natin mahihirapan din. Baka magkaroon ng shortage,” Atty. Laluces explained.
The LTFRB’s chief said that it is altogether a different story after the Holy Week. Aside from the possibility of suspending the remaining 47 Partas buses, “Yung drivers will be required to undergo training at saka drug testing.”
Although the bus company is grateful for the consideration that was given to them, the chief legal counsel of Partas Transport will file for a motion for reconsideration.
“It is a well-tagged note although it is not acceptable to us. Just the same, the accident was not the fault of the driver of Partas. Maliwanag naman ‘yung police report for everybody to see kung paano talaga nangyari ‘yung aksidente,” Atty. Francisco Blanes explained
Source: Manila Bulletin
