By CESAR JOLITO III
Forty-two former employees of Vallacar Transit, Inc. have filed criminal complaints against company officials, alleging they were forced out of their jobs during an internal family dispute that rocked one of the country’s largest transport firms.
The complaints, filed on the eve of Labor Day, include three counts of grave coercion under Article 286 of the Revised Penal Code.
The workers claim they were unlawfully prevented from performing their jobs or pressured into resigning amid a leadership struggle within the company.
Human rights lawyer Dino de Leon, counsel for the complainants, said the case seeks accountability for what he described as systemic violations of workers’ rights.
“We are here to defend 42 workers and seek justice for the violations committed against them,” De Leon said, adding that the use of force, intimidation and fear constituted criminal coercion.
The controversy stems from a prolonged leadership struggle within the Yanson family, which controls Vallacar Transit and its widely known Ceres Liner bus operations.
The complainants argue that operational disruptions — including halted dispatches, restricted terminal access, and public posting of workers’ names — were part of a broader effort to consolidate control, ultimately resulting in the loss of their livelihoods.
The case is expected to undergo preliminary investigation as the former workers seek criminal accountability against the respondents.
Fear, intimidation delayed complaints
De Leon revealed that although the incidents date back several years, many workers only recently found the courage to come forward.
“Ngayon lang sila nagkaroon ng lakas ng loob magsalita,” he said, noting that intimidation and coercive tactics previously discouraged them from pursuing legal action.
The lawyer said labor groups began approaching his office earlier this year to seek legal assistance, but victims hesitated to file complaints due to fear.
According to the complaints, several workers were allegedly:
* Barred from reporting to work and tagged as “banned”
* Declared absent without official leave (AWOL) despite attempting to report
* Pressured into early retirement or resignation
* Forced to sign separation documents under threat of losing benefits
Others who were reinstated on paper claimed they were demoted, placed on “floating status” without assignments, or transferred to unrelated manual work under hostile conditions.
The complainants stressed they did not voluntarily leave their posts nor take sides in the internal conflict.
“They were forced to take sides during the family dispute,” De Leon said.
While 42 workers are named in the complaints, De Leon said the number of employees who lost their jobs during the dispute is believed to be significantly higher.
He said, noting that some affected workers chose not to file complaints due to personal reasons, including lingering fear and lack of resources.
Dismissed
Among the complainants is Alberto Cabalida Jr., who worked for Vallacar for about a decade before his dismissal in 2019. He said he received a termination notice without clear grounds and was discouraged from contesting it.
“What happened to me was forced resignation,” he said in his affidavit.
Another complainant, Rancie dela Vega, a former data entry worker, recounted an incident where employees stayed inside a company office for several days before police reportedly arrived in large numbers.
He said he was later removed from his job without explanation.
The workers also alleged that control over company terminals and offices was enforced through intimidation, including the reported presence of armed men and police — supposedly without court authorization.
De Leon argued that these actions went beyond normal management decisions and instead reflected a deliberate effort by one faction within the Yanson family to assert control, directly affecting employees’ ability to earn a living.
He cited legal precedents defining grave coercion as acts that prevent a person from doing something lawful or compel them to act against their will through threats or intimidation.
De Leon further linked the alleged abuses to what he described as a “climate of impunity” during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
He claimed that the political environment at the time emboldened powerful interests, pointing in particular to the alleged use of police forces during the company takeover.
“The workers were abused because those responsible felt protected at the time,” De Leon said, adding that the filing of the complaints signals a push for long-delayed justice./CJ, WDJ