PNP probes deployment of cops in feud-hit Bacolod bus terminal

“I have already instructed the director of the Civil Security Group to investigate the action of the SOSIA there,” Albayalde told reporters when sought for comment on Thursday. (File photo by Joey O. Razon/PNA)

MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday ordered a probe on the alleged deployment of police officers who have taken over security of the Bacolod-based Vallacar Transit Incorporated (VTI), which has been hounded by internal conflict.

PNP chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde, said he wants to know why the local Supervisory Office on Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA) reportedly sent policemen to the bus terminal allegedly in favor of one of the two warring members of the Yanson family, who owns a large fleet of buses in the Visayas.

“I have already instructed the director of the Civil Security Group to investigate the action of the SOSIA there,” Albayalde told reporters when sought for comment on Thursday.

On Wednesday, one of the members of the Yanson family has already filed an injunction case against Albayalde and other police officials for allegedly taking over a private property, where officials of the transport company are holed up.

“Well, it really goes like this. The PNP serves as shock absorber. When a member of the family does not get what he/she wants, it seems that things are going in favor of the other members. We will maintain our impartiality and we will be ready to answer the injunction case against us,” Albayalde said.

The country’s top cop, however, said that such incident is a family matter and that the PNP can only intervene when a crime has been committed by any of the parties involved.

“The police will never take over a property. It will never happen, especially if they know who owns a property. That is very unlikely,” he added.

The injunction case called on the courts to issue a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) enjoining police officials to cease and desist from deploying personnel in the area and interfering with the issues being resolved by members of the board of the bus company.

The case cited the alleged unreasonable use of force by the PNP without a legal order.

PNP spokesperson Brigadier General Bernard Banac earlier clarified that policemen went to the terminal on Wednesday but only to mediate and maintain peace and order there.

He said he is not aware how many hours did the policemen stayed in the terminal but said they left the premises already.

Banac was referring to the security agencies employed by the two warring parties, the AY-76 which was contracted by Roy Yuson, and the AGNSA, which was contracted by his brother Leo Rey.

Last month, personnel of AY-76 took over the security services in the two areas from their counterparts in the AGNSA Negros Security Agency amid the conflict between the Yanson family members, owners of Vallacar Transit, and four other bus firms under the Yanson Group of Bus Companies, the country’s largest bus conglomerate.

Four Yanson siblings, Roy, Ricardo Jr., Celina and Emily, ousted their younger brother Leo Rey as company president, and replaced him with Roy during a special board meeting held on July 7.

Roy then held office in the Mansilingan compound, and days later, replaced AGNSA “due to loss of trust and confidence”. Blue guards from AY-76 were hired to secure the main office and the south terminal.

Meanwhile, the ongoing feud among the Yansons has also reached the courts.

Bacolod City Regional Trial Court Branch 54 Judge Eduardo Sayson has set two hearings on Aug.

30 and Sept. 6 to resolve whether the July 7 special board meeting was legal or not.