LTFRB gives jeepney operator 3 days to answer Bataan crash

Initial investigation showed the passenger jeepney struck a bus parked along the roadside before crashing into a post. Eighteen people, including the driver, were injured in the incident.

Police investigators are looking into a possible brake malfunction as the cause of the crash. Mendoza said the LTFRB will also examine the circumstances surrounding the accident, including the roadworthiness of the vehicle.

The agency said the operator may have violated road safety provisions requiring public utility vehicle operators to ensure the safe transport of passengers.

Mendoza also directed the concerned LTFRB Regional Franchising and Regulatory Office to monitor the condition of the victims and ensure that insurance claims are processed promptly.

A suspension or revocation of the cooperative's franchise would affect jeepney services on the Dinalupihan-Olongapo route, a key commuter corridor in Bataan. The LTFRB's July 28 hearing will determine whether the operator failed to maintain vehicle safety standards, with the outcome carrying implications for other cooperatives under similar regulatory scrutiny.