The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) suspended at least 20 buses and trucks tied to a string of road crashes in Quezon and Nueva Ecija, stepping up its crackdown on unsafe transport operations.
LTFRB chairperson Vigor Mendoza said the affected vehicles came from three transport firms flagged in separate incidents that left passengers dead and injured.
The agency issued show cause orders against Victory Liner, Philtranco Service Enterprises, and a trucking operator owned by Melencio Magtalas as investigations continue.
Mendoza said authorities are probing possible lapses, including driver behavior, company compliance, and road conditions, to determine accountability.
Among the cases was a fatal crash in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija that led to the 30 day suspension of 15 Victory Liner buses. An earlier accident involving the same firm in Benguet injured nearly 100 passengers and resulted in additional units being sidelined.
A Philtranco bus was also suspended after a deadly crash in Quezon, while four trucks were grounded following a multi vehicle collision in Lucena City.
The LTFRB chief stressed that operating a public transport franchise comes with strict safety obligations, warning that violations could lead to tougher penalties.
Authorities said firms that fail to comply with regulations risk losing their franchises as the government intensifies efforts to protect commuters and road users.