GV Florida Bus Company fires back, to sue Carlo Carbonel - uploader of Florida bus racing video

Tabuk City, Kalinga – The uploader of the viral video showing bus units of the GV Florida Bus Company appearing to be racing against one another earlier this month will be facing charges as the company says they have decided to file complaints.

On June 8, Carlo Carbonel uploaded a video showing Florida buses appeared to be racing against each other along the Diadi – Cordon Road. Due to the said video, GV Florida Transport Inc. earned a barrage of criticism. The video which earned millions of views also got the attention of the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Office.

On June 9, the company released a statement apologizing, saying the captured incident does not align with the organization’s values and standards. Nevertheless, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon did not accept the apology.

The DOTr and LTO proceeded to suspend 15 Florida buses and the licenses of drivers involved for 90 days. The units suspended included those traveling the Baguio – Apayao and Sampaloc – Sta. Ana, Cagayan routes.  Moreover, Dizon, after the incident, urged the public to tag the transportation agencies on Facebook if they see any recklessness, assuring them of immediate action.

On June 25, more than two weeks since the viral video, Atty. Alexander Versoza, legal counsel of the bus company, as cited by the media, expressed that the uploading of the video reeked of malice. Carbonel was accused of editing the footage, which showed the buses to appear like they were racing.

In their issued statement, GV Florida Transport Inc. described the video as "fast forward footage." Thus, the decision was made to file a case against the uploader.