Relatives of Nueva Ecija bus accident victims seek justice

The relatives of the victims of the Nueva Ecija bus accident are asking for justice and assistance from authorities.

One of the fatalities, Pedro Realigue, was on his way to the airport to fetch his son who is arriving from New Zealand. Realigue was accompanied by his nephew Gilbert Mariano.

"Hindi namin ineexpect na nakasakay siya talaga doon... Ngayon pinuntahan namin 'yung Bambang General Hospital na sabi nila most of the casualties nandoon. Bale 12 or 13 yata 'yung casualties don, na-identify namin doon 'yung pamangkin ko," said Vivian Corpuz in Vonne Aquino's "24 Oras" report, Wednesday.

A LeoMaric minibus fell into a ravine in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija on Tuesday wherein at least 32 passengers were killed and about 30 were injured.

Officials lined up the remains of those who died in the accident at the Christian J. Funeral Homes in Bambang, Nueva Ecija so they can be easily be identified by their relatives.

However, Elsie dela Rosa is looking for her son, Ace Vincent. His girlfriend said he was onboard the same LeoMaric bus. A day after the accident, they still could not find him nor can they contact him.

"Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko," said Elsie.

There are 14 survivors presently confined at the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Hospital.

Edgardo Ramos, who suffered multiple bruises, related that he held on to a steel tube during the accident.

"Nung pagulong gulong na, tumalsik na ko," he related.

Another survivor, Ralph de Guzman Grajo, said he was thrown off the bus and lost consciousness.

The survivors believe it was the faulty brakes of the bus and not its tires that caused the accident. Mark Anthony Santos related that the bus lost engine power before it fell into the ravine.

"Dapat mabigyan ng hustisya yung wala sa oras na pagkamatay ng kapatid ko. Talagang hindi namin ine-expect na mangyayari yun," Corpuz said. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BAP, GMA News