LTFRB issues show cause order on Victory Liner

The Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Friday issued a show cause order on Victory Liner Inc. following a fatal shooting of two passengers inside one of its buses in Nueva Ecija.

According to GMA Integrated News' Joseph Morong on X, this was due to its alleged failure to provide safe transportation for its passengers.

"The Shooting Incident inside a Public Utility Bus bearing plate number CAY-3363 at Barangay Minuli, Carangalan, Nueva Ecija, dated 15 November 2023, hereby orders the respondent VICTORY LINER INC., a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC), to show cause in writing why its CPC should not be revoked or canceled for allegedly Failure to Provide Safe, Adequate, Comfortable and Dependable Land Public Transportation," the LTFRB said in its order.

The bus company was directed to file a verified answer on or before the scheduled hearing on November 21, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. in the LTFRB hearing room.

"Failure on the part of the respondent to Answer within the prescribed period and to attend the hearing of this case on the date aforementioned shall be considered as a waiver on her part to be heard, and this case shall be submitted on the basis of the records of this Board," LTFRB added.

GMA News Online had sought comment from Victory Liner on the LTFRB's order, but the bus company had yet to respond as of posting time.

In a viral video of the incident, two male passengers initially told the driver of the Manila-bound bus that they were about to get off at the town of Carranglan in Nueva Ecija.

The men suddenly brandished pistols and gunned down two passengers sitting on the first row at point-blank range. The victims, a man and a woman were repeatedly shot in the head and neck.

The suspects then told the driver to open the door, to which he complied, and the gunmen immediately fled.

Earlier today, Victory Liner's Communications Head Ricky Rivera said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview that the bus company would accept the government's decision on the shooting. — DVM, GMA Integrated News