A COLORUM (unregistered) vehicle was impounded by the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) during an “anti-colorum” operation along Sambok terminal on Lopez Jaena Street on Tuesday, October 11.
Superintendent Luisito Acebuche, head of BTAO, said they seized the Nissan Urvan driven by Jan Marcel Dayon and owned by Irene Malaga of Talisay City around 11 a.m.
The van, loaded with nine passengers and bound for Hinoba-an town, was parked at DPL Rent-A-Car and Tours owned by Glendel Depasucat.
Acebuche said the DPL used the area as a terminal, and not for a car rental business.
He added that their asset pretended to be a passenger to confirm the illegal activity of the operator.
Police recovered from Dayon’s possession the P100 marked money, and P450 in cash.
Acebuche said that colorum vehicle passengers, in case of accident, will not get anything from the operator.
He added that operators were already given a warning to stop their illegal activity, but they still continue to operate.
Acebuche said they will submit a report to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and to Councilor Dindo Ramos, chairman of the City Council committee on transportation, for the cancellation of the business permit of DPL Rent-A-Car and Tours.
He added the vehicle owner will also face a civil liability and will pay the penalty of P200,000.
For his part, Depasucat said their passengers are “walk-in” and they are not competing with other transport operators.
He said the authorities should also inspect all the terminals in the area to show fairness.
