Cagayan de Oro recent comments:

DATE : July 29, 2010 TO : The Rural Transit of Mindanao Incorporated (RTMI) FROM : The Concerned Passenger/Citizen SUBJECT : RTMI Bus Robbery with Hold-up Incident Greetings…! Dear Management and Staff of RTMI: We are a concerned passenger and citizen, and one of the victims of robbery with hold-up last Monday, July 12. This has referenced blotter entry no. 437 dated July 12 at the Maramag Police Station, Maramag Bukidnon, regarding the caption subject that one Viking Air Conditioned RTMI Bus with body no. 2830, and with plate no. KVX 747, maneuvered by one Cezar Ramirez Alfa of Davao City, and a conductor named Ramil Tinoy of Laguindingan Misamis Oriental (Mis Or). The short story… That our estimated time departure (ETD) from Ecoland Integrated Bus Terminal is at about 1700H bound to Cagayan de Oro City (CDO), while going through Salawagan Quezon (Scott Michael Eatery), some (maybe 3 or 4) unidentified people lead-off to the bus and saying…’Quezon lang mi Bay’, were on board. Further, we observed the loading and unloading at Quezon area, while on their way to Maramag and upon reaching the hi-way of San Flower, San Jose Quezon at around 2130H. The men (4) not in uniform with caliber pistols have been declared in loud voice, ‘Holdup! Tanan kwarta pagawas apil pitaka; cell phone og uban pa.’, they divested and become successful with their objective. The action lasts for about 15 to 20 minutes, then, seconds before they runaway, they said to stop the bus and engine off, then, took the key of the bus and shot the driver at the right leg, and escaped along with the two (2) runaway motorcycles going through Camp 1 Maramag or maybe diverted to Sayre Highway going to Cotabato road via Don Carlos and Kitaotao. We had an emotional and psychological trauma now, an experienced that produces psychological injury or pain from violence and relative to a life-threatening & very scary incident or accident. Observations, comments and recommendations: 1) Ultimate security of the passenger.  Loading and unloading of passenger should be at the designated bus stops and has the railings in going through the bus cabin. Further, the ‘Airconditioned’ buses should not pick up any passengers to prevent high way incident such as holdup and robbery. 2) Without performing ‘Kap-kap’, or manual checking to individual passenger going on board (as observed in Salawagan and Quezon areas).  Passengers should have the right to be informed of the designated bus stops, and the standard operating procedure (SOP) for ‘kap-kap’ or individual manual checking should be implemented religiously and constantly, just for the sake of optimum security not only to certain individual but to all valued passengers and citizens. 3) Night trips are picking up passengers anywhere (Aircon and Non-aircon).  To both air-conditioned and none, PUB’s should not pick up any passengers along hi-ways especially to areas not designated as bus stops. And it is much better if there is signage ‘DESIGNATED BUS STOPS’. Also, do not compromise income or margin against safety. Safety should be the highest and greatest degree of concern. 4) Drivers; conductors; and inspectors are not vigilant enough.  Drivers; conductors and inspectors should be vigilant, alert and proactive at all times. 5) Inspectors are waiting buses subject for inspection anywhere.  Inspectors should wait buses subject for inspection right there at the designated bus stops, to prevent surveillance coming from the lawless elements. 6) Designated bus stops don’t have the complete safety measures or paraphernalia.  Designated bus stops should have passenger railings that separates from entrance and exit; a security guard or guards (1 male & 1 female) with metal detector doing an individual manual checking. It is better if you benchmark to Davao City regarding the peace and order and security measures. To the top Management of RTMI: Q1. What will be your resolution or early prevention to address this so called ‘Hi way robbery and holdup’? Q2. What will be your mitigating actions to all the victims especially the costs that they have incurred? Definitely this could affect the reputation or public image of your Company-RTMI. And finally, we are hoping and praying that the RTMI Top management should act and addressed on this problem as early as possible, thereby, preventing future similar incident. Thank you, and best regards. Appreciates, CONCERN PASSENGER