Bus bombing survivors recall tragedy

MAKATI CITY, Philippines - After visiting the lone survivor of the Eton tragedy, Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin "Junjun" Binay also visited 2 of the victims of the Makati bus bombing.

With the help of blast survivors Lino Antonio and Jeff Victoriano, Binay was able to piece the story together what happened during the terrorist attack.

Antonio, a 41-year-old messenger for an advertising agency, sustained internal bleeding after shrapnel hit his kidney.

Doctors had to operate on him to remove the injured part of his right kidney. He is stable now, and may be discharged from the hospital in 2 to 3 days.

Antonio recounts how he was actually the last passenger to ride the Newman Goldline bus before the bomb exploded.

He said he even had to rush to catch the bus, which he sensed was already about to leave the terminal.

Antonio revealed he had just gotten on the bus and was still paying the conductor when the bomb exploded.

He remembered a dead couple almost across from where he was.

Antonio said the only reason he was not killed was because he was covered by the conductor, who was standing between him and the blast.

He said if the conductor were not there, or if the direction of the explosion went inward, he might not have made it.

He said he saw the couple already dead when he stood to jump out of the bus.

He also recalled having stepped on another dead body, but he was far too disoriented to check who it was.

The other victim, 24-year-old Jeff Victoriano, was sitting right across the seat of explosion.

He sustained several open fractures in his right leg, left thigh, and left elbow.

He has not been operated upon because doctors need to wait for his infections and wounds to heal.

Both Antonio's legs and left arm are in a cast, and are supported by a brace attached to his bed.

At times, he grimaces in pain.

Antonio said all he can recall was texting before the blast happened.

Next he knew, he couldn't hear anything at all, except for the dull sounds of people screaming and body parts strewn all over the bus.

He said he dreads even the thought of having to ride another bus again.
source: abs-cbnnews.com/