LTFRB-7 apprehends four vans-for-hire “without permits”

CEBU, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 apprehended yesterday morning four private vans boarding passengers allegedly without a valid franchise.      

In cooperation with the Highway Patrol Group-7, Emil Membrillas, LTFRB-7 information officer, said they conducted the operation around 6:30 a.m. between the towns of Consolacion and Liloan.

Membrillas said one van was used to transport students of a private school. The van came from Danao City and was headed to Barangay Canduman in Mandaue City where the school of the passengers is located.      

"Gidakop ang van pero gipakuyugan namo og among personnel kay gipahatud sa namo sa ilang distinasyon ang mga estudyante unya ang sakyanan gipa diritso na sa LTFRB regional office," Membrillas said.     

 Two other private vans operated as GT vans-for-hire coming from the northern part of Cebu and were en route to a mall in Mabolo, Cebu City, while the other private vehicle operates as a van-for-hire from Cebu City bound for Maya in Daan Bantayan town.       

"Kaning upat ka mga vans gipangdakup ni sila kay wala silay nga franchise or they are operating illegally. Mahug nga mga colorum gyud ni sila," said Membrillas.       

 He said each owner would need to pay a penalty of P200,000. All the units are now impounded at the Land Transportation Office-7 impounding area.      

LTFRB-7 has been intensifying its anti-colorum campaign in the past months, gaining them the ire of the affected colorum operators.     

 Last week, an LTFRB-7 anti-colorum campaign enforcer received a death threat from an apparently disgruntled operator, which prompted LTFRB-7 regional director Ahmed Cuizon to seek assistance from the Philippine National Police to ask the authorities to beef up their security measures for the enforcers.

Membrillas said they will continue to be relentless in their anti-colorum campaign since it is one of their mandate. (FREEMAN)