Four siblings of the Yanson family and their accomplices are now facing arrest after the Bacolod City Regional Trial Court issued a warrant for allegedly taking control and possession of several vehicles owned by Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI).
The Yanson siblings are currently locked in a legal battle against their youngest brother Leo Rey Yanson over control of Vallacar Transit Inc., the country’s largest bus operator.
In separate court rulings dated June 4 and 5, Bacolod City Regional Trial Court Branch 53 Presiding Judge Sue Lynn Lowie-Jolingan issued warrants of arrest against siblings Emily Yanson, Roy Yanson, Ricardo Yanson Jr. and Maria Lourdes Celina Yanson Lopez along with their accomplices Jerica Leanne Ramos, Jerina Louise Ramos and Ma. Judy Alcala for violating Republic Act No. 10883 or the New Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016. Arraignment and pre-trial was set on July 17, 2020. No bail was recommended by the court.
The carnapping case stemmed from an incident on July 22, 2019 where, according to court records, the accused “conspiring, cooperating and confederating with each other, did then and there, willfully, unlawfully and feloniously took possession and control, with intent to gain” a Mitsubishi L-300 model 2012, Foton wing-van model 2017 and Foton wing-van model 2017 to the damage and prejudice of the complainant Vallacar Transit Inc.”
Another Mitsubishi Delica closed van model 1995 was also included in the complaint but the court dismissed the case involving this vehicle. These vehicles are owned and registered under VTI, used by the company for its “Ceres Bus” daily transport and logistics support.
Aside from the carnapping case, the accused and two others are also facing arrest warrants issued by the Bacolod City Municipal Trial Court for grave coercion charges when the Yanson siblings and security guards of A-Y 76 Security Specialists Inc., took possession and control of VTI’s main office last year. Judge Abraham Bayona of Branch 7 set their bail at P36,000 each.
Both the grave coercion and carnapping complaints were filed by VTI operations manager Gary Manayon on behalf of the company on August 29, 2019. The grave coercion case was raffled to MTCC-Bacolod, Branch 7 under Criminal Case No. 20-03-34459 while the carnapping cases were raffled off to RTC-Bacolod, Branch 53 under Criminal Case Nos. 20-51586 to 89.
In a report to the court, CIDG-Negros Occidental OIC P/Col. Anthony C. Gantang said that when they tried to enforce the warrant on May 31, 2020 and June 1, 2020, the respondents were not in their homes.
“Reports indicated that they (respondents) have been out of the country already. They may have sensed that a warrant will be issued against them,” said Atty. Gerry Llena, legal counsel for Leo Rey Yanson.