ILOILO – What should have been a cheerful beach outing turned into a nightmare when an overloaded jeepney from Alimodian town overturned in Barangay Maninila, Miag-ao on April 19, injuring 58 out of its 70 passengers — many of them children and elderly family members.
The crash, which occurred around 7 a.m., has prompted the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Region 6 to issue a show cause order against the jeepney driver, Robert Alemania, 36, of Barangay Baong, Alimodian.
LTO-6 regional director Atty. Gaudioso Geduspan said Alemania must explain why he allowed the vehicle to be grossly overloaded, with passengers even riding on the roof without any safety measures.
“This is a clear case of reckless maneuvering,” said Geduspan. “The driver permitted passengers to ride on top despite the absence of safety nets, which caused many of them to be thrown off during the crash.”
The jeepney was en route to Tubog Beach Resort in San Joaquin town when it lost control on a curved road and flipped, exposing long-standing issues of unsafe transport practices in rural areas.
Initial reports placed the number of passengers at 57, but later verification by police revealed a total of 70 passengers after several victims were discovered to have sought treatment outside Miag-ao.
“It took until late in the evening to fully account for everyone,” said Police Major Richard Lao, chief of the Miag-ao Municipal Police Station.
Of the 58 injured, 35 were treated at the Rep. Pedro Trono Memorial District Hospital in Guimbal town, while eight were transferred to the Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City for more serious injuries.
Others were brought to Aleosan District Hospital (2), San Joaquin’s medical facility (9), and the Miag-ao Rural Health Unit (16).
Twelve passengers were unharmed but underwent medical check-ups.
Alemania, who also sustained injuries, tested negative for alcohol intoxication, based on breathalyzer results conducted by the LTO.
Despite the number of injuries, no formal complaints have been filed against Alemania, and the reglementary detention period has lapsed. However, Geduspan said the absence of a complaint does not prevent the driver from facing administrative and possible criminal liability.
The Miag-ao crash was among two major road incidents in Western Visayas over the Holy Week that prompted the LTO to issue show cause orders. The other involved Jagpreet Singh, 37, an Indian national who allegedly drove a Toyota Innova into a crowd of 19 people during a procession in Barangay Alangilan, Bacolod City on April 18, killing three and injuring more than 15 others.
Singh reportedly tested positive for alcohol and now faces possible license revocation.
“These incidents should serve as a wake-up call. Recklessness — whether by allowing passengers on roofs or driving under the influence — has no place on our roads,” Geduspan stressed.
Major Lao echoed the warning: “We were lucky there were no fatalities in Miag-ao. But luck is not a substitute for responsibility.”
Authorities continue to urge the public and transport operators to observe safety protocols, especially during peak travel seasons when overloading and lax regulation can turn joyful trips into disasters./PN