Tado's body, remains of other bus crash fatalities being processed for release to kin

(Updated 4:30 p.m.) The body of comedian Arvin "Tado" Jimenez and 13 other victims are now being processed for release to their relatives, a day after the fatal bus crash in Barangay Talubin, Bontoc, Mountain Province on Friday.

He and several other artists died when the bus they were riding plunged into a 116-meter-deep ravine at about 7:20 a.m., killing 14 people, including the comedian, and hurting 32 others.

"News TV Live" reported on Saturday that Tado's body, along with the remains of 13 others, lie in state in Bontoc General Hospital chapel.

Relatives of the deceased are preparing documents to reclaim the bodies of their loved ones.

However, a report on "Balitanghali" said the families are having difficulties in acquiring death certificates from hospital authorities. While representatives from Florida Transport have arrived at the hospital, they have yet to give any statement to media.

Most of the injured have been released from the hospital, while several others had to be transferred to Bagiuo City General Hospital and another hospital in the Mountain Province for other medical procedures.

Among the injured are Bernald Beshtold, half-Filipino and half-Austrian, and a Dutch woman.

According to Beshtold, the accident happened too quickly for anyone to react properly, though everyone was conscious of the incident.

"I was very conscious. I think everybody was very conscious. And (it was) not like a nightmare, just very unreal," said Beshtold.

"She will be airlifted to St. Luke's Hospital in Manila... She is quite okay. She has no fractures, only some muscle pain," said Johannes Bijl, referring to a Dutch woman friend.

Police officers have taken statements from conscious victims. Engine failure was commonly mentioned by victims as the cause of the crash.

"Balitanghali" added that Tado's wife arrived at the hospital early Saturday, though she refused to give a statement, she confirmed that her husband's body will be transferred to Manila by land sometime in the afternoon.

A later report on GMA News "Flash Repor" indicated that Tado's remains are now being transported to Manila via land travel. His body was claimed by his wife and several companions.

Since her arrival at Bontoc before noon Saturday, Tado's widow refused to give a statement to media, the report said. — Rie Takumi /LBG, GMA News