President Marcos reacts to tragic accidents at NAIA, SCTEX

- President Bongbong Marcos expressed condolences and called for accountability following the deadly SCTEX and NAIA accidents

- He ordered Transport Secretary Vince Dizon to identify those responsible and implement reforms to prevent similar tragedies

- Marcos announced a review of driver licensing, a nationwide audit of bus operators, and a crackdown on unsafe labor practices in the transport sector

- The President promised to act with resolve to protect lives and improve the country’s transport system

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has vowed swift government action following two tragic vehicular accidents that shocked the nation and claimed multiple lives.

In a video message released by the Presidential Communications Office, Marcos extended his condolences to the victims’ families and promised to hold those responsible accountable.

“I extend my heartfelt condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, and to those who were injured in the recent tragedies at the SCTEX toll plaza and NAIA Terminal 1,” the President said. “Ten lives were lost in a devastating collision in Tarlac. Days later, two more—one of them a child—were taken in a tragic accident at the airport. These incidents should never have happened.”

The President stressed that the government must act with urgency to prevent further loss of life. He has tasked Department of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon with leading the charge to both identify those at fault and implement reforms to improve road safety.

Among the measures President Marcos announced are:

• A review of the driver licensing system to ensure that only fit, capable, and responsible individuals are allowed on the roads

• A nationwide audit of bus operators, with sanctions for companies that fail to meet safety and maintenance standards

• A directive to the Department of Labor to crack down on exploitative labor practices in the transport sector, including long driving hours and driver fatigue

“We owe it to the victims and their families to act—not only with sympathy, but with resolve,” Marcos emphasized. “These lives will not be lost in vain. We will make the changes that need to be made. We will demand accountability where it is due. And we will build a transport system that truly protects Filipino people.”

The recent accidents—one involving a passenger bus at the SCTEX toll plaza in Tarlac and another involving a private vehicle at the NAIA Terminal 1 departure ramp—have reignited public concerns over road safety, driver responsibility, and the state of transportation systems in the country.

News, photos or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, such could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable.

In related news, the three individuals who were injured from the incident in NAIA Terminal 1 on May 4 have been transferred to St. Luke's Hospital. Based on the report of ABS-CBN, they were initially brought to the San Juan De Dios Hospital. The injuries were the result of an SUV that crashed into NAIA Terminal 1. The incident left two dead, including a 5-year-old girl who went to the terminal to see her father off, who is an OFW.

Still in related news, the reaction of the driver of the SUV, 47-year-old Leo Gonzales, was captured on video. In the video shared by TV Patrol of ABS-CBN, one could see the driver momentarily unable to alight from the SUV immediately following the crash at the NAIA Terminal 1. Thereafter, when he got out of the vehicle, he placed his hands on his knees and bent forward. The incident claimed the lives of two individuals, a male adult and a five-year-old girl who went to the airport to bid her father, an OFW, goodbye.

Source: KAMI.com.gh