ISABELA, Cagayan Valley — The driver of Dagupan Bus Lines, which plunged into a ravine in Isabela, was charged on Thursday by Cauayan City Police Station over the death of nine passengers and injury to at least 29 others.

Chief Superintendent Roberto Damian, Cagayan Valley regional director, said the bus driver, Rolando Abar-Abar, was charged with multiple homicide resulting in damage to property as well as frustrated homicide.

The accident prompted Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Alberto Suansing to suspend the entire operations of the Dagupan Bus Lines.

The Dagupan bus driven by Aba-Abar with body number 168 collided head-on with a pick-up truck and hit a second pick-up truck before the bus fell into the ravine in Cauayan City, Isabela before dawn Wednesday.

Suansing said the bus firms have several franchises that allow their other units to continue operating if one franchise is suspended.

He said that he had earlier warned the bus company of the possibility of grounding of entire fleet, if one of its units gets involved in deadly accident.

Based on police data, the Dagupan Bus Lines was involved in another accident last August where at least eight passengers were killed after figuring in a head-on collision in Lucena City, Quezon.