LTFRB Suspends Elavil Bus Company Over Serious Road Mishap

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has issued a suspension order against bus company Elavil Tours Phils. Inc. after one of its buses figured in a serious road accident in Quezon province.

The Board also instructed the bus firm to provide a reason not to suspend or revoke its certificate of public convenience after a Manila-bound Elavil smashed onto a metal railing along a highway roadside in Tagkawayan, Quezon during the wee hours of May 17, Friday, injuring 20 passengers.

"The agency will await (a) written answer from Elavil Tours Phils. Inc. to explain why its certificate of public convenience should not be suspended, cancelled and/or revoked for violation of the terms and conditions of its franchise," the LTFRB said in a statement.

The Board also directed Elavil to surrender all 10 of its 'For Hire' plates, as well as GPS recordings, CCTVs, and dashcam video clips to the LTFRB’s legal division.

"All authorized traffic enforcement agencies are ordered to apprehend and impound vehicles of Elavil Tours Phils, Inc. under the said case number (2007-1991ST), if found operating," the LTFRB said.

According to a report filed by the Quezon provincial police, the bus, containing 70 passengers and driven by Elavil employee Allan Robles, crashed into the railing while traveling a descending curved section of the highway.

The overloaded bus was allegedly overspeeding. Robles fled the scene of the accident.

Robles, along with the bus company operator, are scheduled to appear at a hearing set at the LTFRB central office in Quezon City on May 29.

The injured passengers were rushed to the Ma. Lourdes Eleazar Memorial District Hospital at the Tagkawayan town center.

Recently, the LTFRB also suspended AMV Travel and Tours due to an accident involving one if its buses, which occurred in nearby Atimonan, Quezon last May 6. Three people died and 68 were injured when the Bicol-bound AMV bus collided with a Manila-bound truck in Barangay Sta. Catalina.