DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/27 September) — City Hall will support the filing of criminal charges against the driver and operator of the “uso-uso” jeepney that rammed against a softdrinks delivery truck on Friday, killing nine passengers and injuring others.
At the same time, Mayor Sara Duterte criticized the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for “not doing your job” and for approving the franchises of operators whose vehicles don’t even meet safety standards in the city.
“To the LTO and the LTFRB, get your acts together because every time you don’t do anything about violators, every time you sit on your chairs, people die every day because you’re not doing your job,” Duterte said.
She said the city will provide lawyers to the victims for the filing of damage claims against jeepney driver Joel Recopelacion and operator Rey Placible for the accident that killed nine people in Bago Aplaya in Talomo district on Friday, September 24.
The police are filing a case of reckless imprudence against the driver and operator, she said.
“The CSSDO (City Social Services and Development Office) and the City Legal (Office) will ensure that damages to the victims are paid for by Recopelacion and operator Rey Placible,” an irate mayor said during the flag raising rite at City Hall.
She announced that five traffic eagle squads are now on a 24-hour shift just to apprehend more violators in the city.
However, she sternly warned traffic enforcers to promptly produce results, or else, “heads will roll”.
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“I want heads to roll, I want all violators apprehended, I want all erring drivers caught without excuses.[]
