Yanson calls on PNP Director-General

to investigate the matter

Roy Yanson, president of Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI), parent company of the Ceres bus liner, recently released a statement condemning the Police Regional Office-7 Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team for their alleged role in last week’s attempted takeover of the Dumaguete City Bus Terminal. According to the company official, police were reportedly involved in the intimidation and harassment of security personnel, along with making “illegal arrests.”
“We are preparing to charge those who took part in these illegal arrests and those who violated the human rights of our security personnel,” he affirmed. “Their acts led to a disruption of bus operations, which harmed the riding public.”
Yanson recounted the incident from his perspective, noting, at least 20 SWAT team members and other police personnel arrived at the transportation hub last week. He said the law enforcement officials entered the premises on reported claims of illegal entries; however, he said they later said the reason was to inspect members of the firm’s recently-hired security firm.
According to the VTI president, security guards were arrested, including those sleeping in the company’s resting quarters, and brought to the Philippine National Police (PNP) provincial headquarters on trespassing charges.
He added, following inquest proceeding, the arrested individuals were released.
Yanson pointed the finger at former company president Leo Rey Yanson, his brother, and his mother, Olivia Yanson, claiming it all happened after their appeal for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the company president was denied in court.
In his statement, he also appealed for Philippine National Police Director-General Oscar Albayalde to conduct an investigation into the incident.
“As a longtime partner of government, particularly the PNP, it pains me to express extreme disappointment on the conduct of the Dumaguete City police last Friday—they failed to exercise prudence,” he insisted. “They did not conduct appropriate investigation as to the veracity of complaints of trespassing [and] they violated our rights to enter and conduct business in our own property.”
“We urge PNP leadership to initiate a probe and punish those responsible for this,” the company president added. “I urge PNP chief Oscar Albayalde to call for an independent probe on why state security forces got involved in the internal political dynamics of our company.”/WDJ