By Emmanuel Canto

Amid the ongoing dispute over control of Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI), parent company of the Ceres Bus Liner, between siblings Roy Yanson and Leo Rey Yanson, with the former ousting the latter as company president, the Philippine Agricultural, Commercial, and Industrial Workers Union (PACIWU) has come out in support of the ousted official.
The union offered its “unqualified support” for the administration of Leo Rey Yanson.
A recently-released manifesto, signed by PACIWU National President Hernane P. Braza and Chapter President Franny E. Santarin, called for a return to the status quo and to find an amicable resolution.
“PACIWU, being a long time partner of the company, is respectfully appealing to the other members of the board of Vallacar Transit Inc. and Yanson Group and Bus Company to please cease and desist from using force or any abrupt takeover of the management or administration,” the document stated.
“Settle [these] serious concerns among yourselves before union members feel the hopelessness of working [in] an environment of confusion,” the manifesto added.
The power struggle initially arose after Atty. Sheila Sison sent a press statement to members of the media last Sunday indicating Roy Yanson was appointed company president, replacing Leo Rey Yanson, who will continue to serve as a director and member of the Board of Directors.
The statement claimed a special board meeting was held to appoint a new president and replace corporate officers expected to work with the new administration.
Leo Rey Yanson responded by calling the meeting an “illegal action” and named Roy Yanson, Emily Yanson, Ma. Lourdes Celina Lopez, and Ricardo Yanson Jr. among the parties associated with the special board meeting.
According to Roy Yanson’s lawyers, the board claimed a loss of trust and confidence as the reason why Leo Rey Yanson was “voted out.”/EC, WDJ