LTFRB: QC cop not off the hook in ‘colorum’ van rape-rob cases
THE QUEZON City policeman who was found to be the employer of the driver tagged in a series of rapes and robberies victimizing female passengers may not be directly involved in those crimes, but he still faces a hefty fine for operating a “colorum” or unauthorized public utility vehicle.
This was an assertion made by an official of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) regarding PO2 Gregorio Bangsil, the employer of the arrested suspect, Wilfredo Lorenzo.
In a statement on Monday, LTFRB member Ariel Inton stressed that a vehicle used for public transport without the necessary franchise is considered colorum and thus subject to impoundment and a fine of P200,000.
On Friday, Lorenzo’s lawyer Berteni Causing disclosed in media interviews that his client was working for Bangsil, a member of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), when he was driving the commuter van used to pick up female passengers whom he later allegedly robbed and raped.
Six women have since surfaced to file complaints after Lorenzo’s arrest on June 13. As of Tuesday, however, Inton’s office has yet to summon Bangsil, who is currently assigned to the QCPD-Fairview station. Jovic Yee
Son of justice who swore in Erap in 1969 performs same task today
REELECTED Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada will take his oath of office today before the son of the Court of Appeals justice who swore him in as San Juan mayor back in 1969.
Bambi Purisima, Manila’s media information bureau officer, said Estrada’s inauguration would be held at the council session hall at noon, with Court of Appeals Justice Andres Reyes Jr. administering the oath.
Reyes’ father, Andres Sr., was then the presiding CA justice who performed the same rites when Estrada, then a movie actor, made his debut in local government in a municipality that would eventually become his family bailiwick.
Meanwhile, Estrada’s granddaughter and incoming San Juan vice mayor, Janella Estrada, was set to take her oath last night at the Camp Crame detention center that is holding her father, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.
Diego Cagahastian, chief of the Manila media information bureau, said this arrangement was made after the Sandiganbayan turned down the senator’s request for a furlough so he could administer Janella’s oath.
The senator has been in detention on plunder charges arising from the P10-billion pork barrel scam exposed by the Inquirer in 2013. Kristine Felisse Mangunay