Don Mariano buses have bad road reps

MANILA - Several complaints against Don Mariano buses and its drivers have surfaced a day after the tragic accident at the Skyway. Many commuters say drivers of Don Mariano buses are known for their notoriety on the road. Commuter Tirso Onias commutes to and from Baclaran. He said if he had any other choice, he wouldn't take a Don Mariano bus. He said Don Mariano bus drivers do not heed passengers who ask them to slow down. "Talagang ang bilis magpatakbo, parang walang iniintinding pasahero. Kahit magreklamo, walang magagawa. 'Mama, pakibagalan parang walang bukas magmaneho.' Wala lang parang di narinig," he said. Taxi driver Mang Roy said he came across passengers who had just gotten off a Don Mariano bus. "Sabi lang ng pasahero di pa sila sumasakay umaandar na ang bus," he said. Another taxi driver, Richard, said he noticed how Don Mariano buses would fail to stick to their lanes and their drivers seemed unmindful of other vehicles on the road. "Ma-harass sila sa kalsada. Spoiled sila sa pagmamaneho. Pag nagmaneho magalaw sa guhit," said taxi driver Richard Braga. He added: "Dapat i-drug test sila. Dapat matanggal ang adik sa kalsada." Complaints on Don Mariano buses have also come out on social media. John Ray tweeted the MMDA about their bus that swerved wide along EDSA. Marie Viola and Jenni Epperson think some of the drivers of Don Mariano might have been drunk. Jar Ramos noted how one bus loaded and unloaded passengers right in the middle of Congressional Avenue in Quezon City. James Banaag didn't mince words, calling Don Mariano a killer bus. An ABS-CBN News team tried to get a reaction from the company but the security guard at the office failed to identify anyone in a position to respond to all these complaints. Mornings@ANC, December 17, 2013