DOTr Files Criminal Raps vs. Bus Conductor in PWD Assault

DOTr Files Criminal Raps vs. Bus Conductor in PWD Assault

By Bing Jabadan – TheNationweekcom 
June 16, 2025

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has filed criminal charges against a bus conductor who allegedly assaulted a person with a disability (PWD) using a taser last week. Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said the conductor’s actions warrant a severe response from the government, which is committed to protecting vulnerable members of society and ensuring safety in public transportation.

The incident, which occurred on an EDSA Busway route, went viral on social media, sparking criticism from the public.

“The investigation indicates the conductor used the taser, which constitutes a criminal offense,” Dizon said during a briefing with officials from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Dizon explained that “the victim doesn’t need to file a case” as he had already instructed the LTFRB to initiate legal proceedings against the conductor. LTO Chief Vigor Mendoza confirmed that his office had suspended 15 buses operated by the conductor’s company servicing the EDSA bus carousel.

A hearing is set for June 25 to give the driver and the conductor an opportunity to present their accounts of the incident.

This comes amid heightened scrutiny of passenger safety following a separate incident wherein a young boy with autism was reportedly attacked by fellow passengers on a bus.

Details of the incident were, however, not immediately available.

“The government’s foremost duty is to protect those who are most at risk, and individuals with disabilities are among the most defenseless,” Dizon pointed out. “Public transport should guarantee the safety of all passengers, a standard that was not upheld in this instance,” he said.