LTO names driver, owner of SUV with No. ‘7’ plate

TICKETED, FINALLY Angelito Edpan (left, standing), the driver of the white Cadillac Escalade with a “7” protocol plate that was caught in a viral video illegally using the Edsa bus lane over the weekend, is issued a traffic violation ticket by an LTO enforcer on Wednesday. Edpan, who escaped apprehension by driving off, was presented in a press briefing held at LTO main office in Quezon City by (from left, seated) LTO chief Vigor Mendoza ll and LTO Law Enforcement Service director Francis Ray Almora. —Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) declared as solved on Wednesday “the mystery of the ownership” of the sport utility vehicle (SUV) with a “7” protocol plate that was caught illegally using the Edsa busway as it presented in a press briefing the driver and officials of the company to whom the white Cadillac Escalade was registered.

However, the appearance of Angelito Edpan, the driver of the SUV registered to Orient Pacific Corp., and two of its officials raised more questions. While Edpan apologized for the incident, he claimed he did not know who his passenger was, saying he merely followed instructions to pick up the guest.

READ: SUV owner of viral ‘7’ plate number revealed; proprietor is not a senator

Edpan added that nobody told him to use the Edsa busway, saying that he was in a hurry because he had a stomachache.

In the same press briefing, Omar Guinomla, a director of the firm, also apologized and said they would cooperate with the LTO, adding that they were also conducting an internal investigation.

Guest car

Guinomla told reporters that the passenger at the time was an investor whom he declined to identify. “We use it (SUV) if we have guests who arrive to bring them to our investment sites. So primarily, it’s a guest car,” he said.

Asked who the owners of the firm were, Guinomla and company lawyer Maria Julieta Santos declined to identify them, invoking their right to privacy.

Edpan, who said he had been driving for Orient Pacific for about two years, denied knowing who installed the “7” protocol plate reserved for senators. Guinomla, for his part, said the company was still looking into the matter.

LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said that Edpan’s driving license had been confiscated and a traffic violation ticket was also issued against him.

“We will issue a show cause order and there could be more administrative charges based on the ongoing investigation,” said Mendoza, who earlier reported that the protocol plate was fake.

Sen. Raffy Tulfo, in another press briefing, claimed the passenger at that time was a relative of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.

The former broadcaster known for his scathing commentaries against public officials, however, declined to identify Gatchalian’s supposed family member, apparently out of respect for his colleague.

Tulfo’s claim

But he confirmed that the SUV was owned by Orient Pacific Corp., which listed Gatchalian’s father, plastics tycoon William Gatchalian, and brother, Kenneth, as among its shareholders.

Gatchalian has yet to comment on Tulfo’s revelation, but he earlier denied insinuations he was the registered owner of the Escalade.

“If I were the passenger, just admit that you erred and apologize … Don’t make it hard for many people because the senators are being dragged into this scandal,” Tulfo said.

“I also know for a fact that the passenger is related to a senator. But the senator was not aboard the SUV at that time. That’s all I can say for now,” he added.

When asked if William and Kenneth Gatchalian were indeed listed as owners and officials of Orient Pacific, a smiling Tulfo said: “That’s according to you.”

A1 information

“The vehicle is owned by Orient Pacific, whose board members include the names you just mentioned,” he told reporters, citing “A1 information.”

Pressed about rumors the passenger was actually Gatchalian’s father, Tulfo said: “I don’t know. But the [picture] that I posted on my Facebook account shows that the [passenger] looks like an elderly man.”

According to him, the Escalade left the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 at around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday after picking up the passenger, who had just arrived from Tokyo.

He said the SUV was on its way to a casino in Quezon City when it entered the Edsa busway.

A member of the Department of Transportation-Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (DOTr-SAICT) flagged down the Escalade on the northbound portion of Edsa in Guadalupe, Makati City, but the driver of the vehicle refused to stop.

While fleeing, the SUV almost ran over the DOTr-SAICT enforcer, according to a viral video of the incident.