Zambales cops arrest 2 in illegal carpool

SAN ANTONIO, Zambales—Police apprehended two men in Subic town on Wednesday (April 28) for allegedly operating an illegal carpooling service.

Police identified the two as Willy Joe Gallardo, of Castillejos town, and Ernesto Beza of this town. Both drove a Toyota Innova which has a seating capacity of eight.

The cars were flagged down at a checkpoint on the national highway at the village of Matain around 1 p.m.

Both drivers failed to present documents to show that they were allowed to operate their vehicles for public utility, police said.

The two, and their five passengers, were taken to the municipal police station for further questioning and investigation.

Col. Romano Cardino, Zambales police chief, said his office was “monitoring the modus operandi of carpooling.”

“We should be aware that riding in a carpool is illegal,” he said.

Cardino said the apprehension of the drivers and their passengers was a “stern warning.”

He said police will “stop the outright violation of laws and quarantine guidelines amid the surge of COVID-19 cases.”

TSB