Five vans caught operating illegally

CEBU, Philippines - Three passenger vans were apprehended at the South Road Properties in Cebu City yesterday in line with the government's strengthened campaign against colorum vehicles.

Operators of two other vans were fined for loading passengers at an illegal terminal, said LTFRB-7 chief Ahmed Cuizon.

Cuizon said one of the three colorum vans is a private vehicle that does not have a franchise while the other two violated the conditions of their franchise.

"They are still considered as colorum because they have violated their franchise terms and conditions," Cuizon said.

Emil Membrillas, head of the complaint desk of LTFRB-7, said franchise of the two vans only allows them to transport resort guests, not get passengers.

"Naa silay franchise pero para ra gyud sa pag-ferry sa mga resort guests pero ang nahitabo ani kay namasahero gyud ang driver ani," Membrillas said.

Membrillas said the three vans have been impounded and operators would need to pay the P200,000 fine each.

Meanwhile, operators of the vans that loaded passengers at an illegal terminal will be fined P2,500.

Membrillas said the two vans have a franchise to operate from Toledo City to Cebu City but picked up passengers at an unauthorized terminal in Minglanilla.

"Despite our limited personnel, we shall also carry out enforcement efforts in other parts of Region 7 where there are reports of colorum transport operations," Cuizon said. (FREEMAN)