Security guards at transport firm in Bacolod ordered reinstated

BACOLOD CITY –– The security guards who were originally securing Vallacar Transit Inc.’s (VTI) main office and terminal in this city were ordered reinstated to their posts.

The Philippine National Police Supervisory Office on Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA) said personnel of the Armored Guards Negros Security Agency have the right to secure the facilities.

On Tuesday morning, SOSIA served an order at the Bacolod Ceres south terminal to reinstall security guards removed from the facility on July 20 and at the VTI main office in Mansilingan.

Police Col. Michael John Dubria, acting SOSIA chief, said the directive was anchored on an investigation of an intra-corporate dispute of VTI, which affected the security providers of the properties.

Dubria said the deployment of the AY 76 Security Specialist Inc. at the south terminal and the VTI main office was not in compliance with the provisions.

The AY 76 Security Specialist Inc. guards belong to the camp of the four Yanson siblings – Roy, Emily, Celina and Ricardo Jr., while the Armored Guards Negros Security Agency are the original guards detailed at VTI facilities aligned with the camp of Leo Rey Yanson, his mother Olivia, and sister Ginnette Yanson Dumacas.

The four Yanson siblings had ousted Leo Rey as president of the Yanson Group of Bus Companies in a special board meeting on July 7 and installed Roy in his place. Leo Rey has refused to step down, saying the move was illegal.

Unless ordered by the court, lawyer Raul Bito-on, spokesman of the Yanson 4, said they would hold their ground and would not abide with the SOSIA order.

As of 12:58 p.m., heavily armed policemen were posted outside the south terminal but the AY 76 guards remained inside the south terminal.