4 arrested

BACOLOD (UPDATE) - Trips of southbound buses at the Bacolod Ceres south terminal temporarily stopped Wednesday morning after the bus company refused to recognize a police order reinstating a private security firm to guard the premises.

Ceres chief finance officer Celina Yanson Lopez made the announcement after she found out that security guards of Armored Guards Negros Security Agency (AGNSA) have been reinstalled in the south terminal early Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the bus firm's new management under Roy Yanson refused to recognize the order served by the Philippine National Police Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Service (PNP-SOSIA) to allow the AGNSA guards to enter the premises and take over security duties.

Last July 7, four of the six Yanson siblings took control of the country’s largest bus company, voting out Leo Rey Yanson over loss of trust and confidence.

The new management had replaced AGNSA security guards at the South Terminal with guards of AY 76 Security Agency last July 17.

But the PNP order stated that the hiring and replacement of security guards by the new management was not in compliance with PNP rules and regulations.

Norman Golez, legal counsel of Leo Rey Yanson, said under police rules and regulations, a security agency may not take over another security agency if there is an existing intra-corp controversy.

The announcement or suspension of trips by Yanson Lopez, according to Golez, came after the former confronted him.

He said Yanson Lopez accused him of getting the collection from buses that were returning to the terminal around 7 a.m. Wednesday.

“I just shook my head. Nothing to do with the collections. I don’t even have anything with me. Plus she’s the treasurer. Isn’t she the CFO? I don’t know what she was talking about,” Golez said.

After the confrontation between Yanson Lopez and Golez, police beefed up security in the compound. The terminal is temporarily closed.

Police Col. Henry Biñas said they are locking down the terminal to prevent violence as workers supporting the two Yanson factions are also affected and tensions are getting high.

“We explained to the passengers earlier that we're very sorry because we have to maintain the peace and order," he said.

Police arrested 4 bus drivers and conductors of Vallacar Transit Inc. involved in a scuffle with the reinstated security guards at the terminal.

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Golez, meanwhile, said the ousted president is finding a way for the bus trips to resume within the day.

“Why would you stop operations? Just a little bit of issues here and there. That’s not fair to the riding public,” he said.

Outside the barricaded terminal, a group of drivers and conductors who have no work Wednesday after the suspension of trips blamed Leo Rey Yanson.

The group of disgruntled workers yelled and shouted at fellow workers inside the terminal who are identified with the ousted president.

Members of the Special Weapons and Tactics Team quietly stood in front of the protesting workers.

-- With a report from Nico Delfin, ABS-CBN News