Ceres bus services halted as Yanson family feud continues

BACOLOD CITY—Ceres bus services to southern Negros Occidental halted on Wednesday amid the ongoing Yanson family feud.

Bus drivers stopped plying their routes after the police took control over the Ceres south terminal at Lopez Jaena Street in Bacolod City.

About 93 policemen are now securing the area.

Celina Yanson decided to stop the bus operations after the police attempted to install the security guards associated with the camp of her brother Leo Rey, lawyer Raul Bitoon, spokesman of her camp said.

Vans-for-hire were seen ferrying southbound passengers.

Col. Henry Biñas, Bacolod police chief, said the police took over the security of the Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI) south terminal at Lopez Jaena Street and the firm’s main headquarters in Bacolod City to ease the tension at both facilities.

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

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 and 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 (YGBC) 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.

Col. Jaime Santos, SOSIA Enforcement Management Division chief, said the security guards belonging to AY 76 Security Specialist of the Roy Yanson camp and Armored Guards Negros Security Agency (AGNSA) of the Leo Rey Yanson group were asked to leave.

The police takeover, he said, is temporary to ensure peace and order.

At present, Leo Rey remains in control of 14 of 15 branches of the Yanson Group of Bus Companies (YGBC), said his lawyer Norman Golez.

The VTI south terminal and the main office had been taken over by the camp of Roy and his siblings Celina, Emily and Ricardo Jr. in July following their ouster of Leo Rey as president of the YGBC.