MMDA nabs niece of DILG chief for operating a colorum van, other raps

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday announced the apprehension of a colorum operator, who also happened to be a relative of Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr.

The said suspect, identified by the MMDA only with her alias “Jaz Abalos,” was apprehended after an entrapment operation conducted by a composite team of the agency, the Department of Transportation and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

READ: P17.4 M in fines collected from anti-colorum vehicles drive

According to the MMDA in a statement, Jaz Abalos personally went to the MMDA head office to “negotiate” with the agency after a van she illegally operated was apprehended for colorum violation along Araneta Avenue in Cubao, Quezon City.

As she tried to negotiate, she even explicitly claimed that she is the niece of secretary Abalos.

“Upon verification, it turned out that the woman is a relative of the DILG chief. She was recognized by one of the members of Abalos family through her photo and name,” MMDA Assistant General Manager for Operations David Angelo Vargas said in the same statement.

READ: DOTr cracks down on ‘colorum’ vehicles this Holy Week

Vargas said he then informed Sec. Abalos that the woman name-dropped him to evade apprehension.

The MMDA then arrested Jaz, along with the driver of the colorum passenger van identified as Antonio Mirasol who was also caught presenting a fake driver’s license.

Meanwhile, Sec. Abalos, for his part, told INQUIRER.net that he ordered the arrest of his relative.

“Nong naririnig ko na may gumagamit nung pangalan na kamag-anak ko raw, I told my internal security hulihin niyo ito,” said Abalos.

(When I heard someone introduced themselves as my relative, I told my internal security to arrest them.)

“Pagdating sa ganyang kalokahan, dito wala kang pinipili, dapat lahat hulihin mo. ‘Pag nagsabing kamag-anak mo, o kaibigan mo, walang mangyayari sa bansa natin kung puro palakasan,” he added.

(When it comes to such criminal acts, you don’t choose who you arrest. Even if it’s your relative or friend, our country won’t progress if it’s always about favoritism.)

Both are now facing charges of falsification of public documents with conspiracy, estafa, resistance and disobedience, and light threat.

MMDA acting chief Don Artes said the arrest of the two suspects is part of intensified efforts to weed out colorum vehicles in Metro Manila.

“The agency will not stop its operations against colorum vehicles plying the major thoroughfares of Metro Manila,” he said.