Paniqui, Tarlac – – Corrupt, negligent, protector of colorum.
These were the strong accusations of the Tarlac-Moncada-Gerona-Paniqui Transport Cooperative Inc. (TAMOGEPA) against the personnel of the 3 Land Transportation Offices in Tarlac and the Regional offices of LTO and the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) .
TAMOGEPA have been complaining the “unabashed operation” of the more than 200 colorum white vans who ply their route under the very noses of the LTO personnel.
“Simula 2010, 6 na taon na kaming nagtitiis sa kapabayaan at corruption ng mga taga-LTO. Dahil sa kanila, dumami ang mga colorum vans na patuloy na nagnanakaw sa aming lehitimong hanapbuhay. Protektor sila ng mga colorum. Humihingi kami ng tulong kay presidente (Rodrigo) Duterte ”, said Bernie Fajardo, TAMOGEPA chairman.
TAMOGEPA has submitted a letter-complaint to Malacanang and are awaiting President Duterte’s action.
The transport cooperative has 112 jeepney unit-members, all with franchise to operate along the Mac Arthur Highway from Tarlac City to Moncada town passing thru the municipalities of Gerona and Paniqui.
According to Fajardo, their continuous complaint against the colorum vans have not been acted upon, including their March 18 letter-complaint to Region 3 LTO Director Marina De Jesus and LTFRB Region 3 Director Atty. Zona Russet Tamayo requesting the apprehension of the colorum vans and seeking the investigation of the local LTO personnel.
“Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang beses na kaming nagreklamo sa mga LTO at LTFRB offices at ilang beses na rin kaming nakipag-dialogue sa kanila, pero hanggang ngayon patuloy pa ring namamasada ang mga colorum na hindi naman nagbabayad ng buwis”, also said Fajardo.
Fajardo gave the names of the leaders of the colorum vans as Rolando Bermudo of the U-HOP Tarlac, Eduardo Millado and Ex-policeman Tomas Iglesia (Tarlac City-Sta. Ignacia via Tagumbao Gerona Transport group), Obet Salazar of the PAGETA Transport Association, and the Baguio City-Tarlac City transport group (Team BATAR) of a certain Mr. Dela Rosa.
He also said, “maraming active at retired police at military ang may-ari ng mga colorum kasama ang police na De Guzman na taga-Buenlag, Gerona”.
“Dapat tanggalin lahat ang mga empleyado ng mg LTO offices mula Tarlac hanggang Region 3 at pati na rin ang mga LTFRB Region (3). Araw-araw nakikita nilang pumapasada ang mga colorum simula pa noong 2010 pero wala silang ginagawa”, said Fajardo.
Specifically being assailed by the TAMOGEPA were Tamayo, De Jesus, the LTO Tarlac City Registration office headed by Estella Nicolas, the LTO Paniqui , Tarlac, sub-office headed by Rogelio Yambao and the Tarlac City Licensing office of Edgardo Navarro.
“Noong 2010, 180 units kami, ngayon, dahil sa mga colorum, 112 na lang kaming natitira. Lahat kami may mga legal na prankisa at nagbabayad kami ng buwis taon-taon. Pero bakit wala kaming proteksyon sa LTFRB at LTO”, lamented Fajardo, a former OFW who invested his earnings abroad in a jeepney he drives daily.
“Karamihan sa kanila wala man plate numbers, at kung meron man, black at green plates. Meron pa ngang nagpalagay ng mga fake na LTFRB body markings. Sila walang coding, kami hinuhuli pag lumalabas kami sa coding (day) namin”, also said Fajardo.
The colorum vans are seen parked at the Mac Arthur main intersection in Paniqui town, at the bus stop fronting the police station in Gedrona town and in Tarlac City at the Palm Plaza, Metro town Mall and SM Tarlac.
Sought for comment, Nicolas said they are doing all they can to apprehend the colorum vans and denied receiving payola from them. Yambao on the other hand said, they cannot apprehend the colorum without the presence of the LTFRB./Nelson Bolos (FB: Tarlac News Center)