ROY Yanson, the eldest among the Yanson siblings, on Wednesday, July 31, enjoined his mother Olivia Villaflor Yanson, one of the founders of the Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI), to stop playing favorites and hurting the feelings of his children and even her grandchildren.
The VTI is under the Yanson Group of Bus Companies (YGBC) which owns the Ceres buses and four other bus companies.
Roy in a statement said he believes this dispute among their family “will surely end” soon and ultimately, Olivia and the rest of the Yansons will come together as a family.
For weeks now, the Yansons had been involved in an alleged intra-corporate dispute after the board of directors decided to terminate the services of Leo Rey as company president.
The Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI) is under the Yanson Group of Bus Companies (YGBC) which owns the Ceres buses and four other bus companies.
Roy said these issues would not have happened had his mother respected what his father, Ricardo Yanson senior did when he apportioned his estate among the six while he was still alive.
As majority shareholders, the four siblings had control over the board and whatever the board decides on, the rest of the management, including Leo Rey who remains as a director, and its employees are mandated by law to follow, Roy said.
He added that it is for the good of everyone, including the third generation of Yansons, to cease from fighting and respecting what they have agreed upon in the Family Constitution as well as the Shareholders’ Agreement which was passed ten years ago.
“While it pains us to see our family being wrecked by these controversies, it further hurts us to know that our mother is playing favorites when this is the particular time that the family needs unity. Our mother is already old. She must retire already and trust her children with the reigns of the company. She must not play favorites. We are not kids anymore, Roy further said.
What the company is encountering, Roy says, is normal for family corporations like them transitioning to a more corporatized setup. Groups especially those accustomed to old management styles, would certainly oppose moves to change the management.
“Change is inevitable, and our mother must accept that. She says we had our chance. I must apologize and say that isn’t true. Our father gave us the chance and trusted us. Sadly though, our mother never gave us the chance and the nurturing love we expect from her never came particularly now that she’s already eighty plus years old,” Roy added.
Meanwhile, Leo Rey for his part said, “No amount of explanation is enough to one who refuses to understand and falls short of comprehending things coming out of his mouth”.
Leo Rey made the reaction to older brother Roy, who denied that he and another sibling, Ricky, violated the law when they used force with blue guards and plainclothes armed “goons” when they took over the Ceres facilities in Barangay Bagacay, Dumaguete City middle of last week.
“His defense defies logic. He is saying in effect that they took over the garage and terminal peacefully by just telling personnel, ‘hey, we are the owners. Can we borrow your chairs?’” the younger Yanson added.
Leo Rey said dozens witnessed the takeover that his brothers made and people were saying the premises looked like a “war zone” as they were accompanied by gun-wielding “goons” believed to be former military operatives on top of the blue guards, who also illegally entered the property, he recounted.
“Now he is trying to turn the tables on me by saying my statements are hogwash; that there was no infraction of the law. Do you really understand what you are saying? Do you need an interpreter?” Leo Rey asked.
He added: Stop telling lies. You always have the tendency to contradict your own statements. People are asking if you are “sabog” the way you answered interviews. Being sane and tipsy are two different things”.
“Can you still remember going to the North Terminal in the wee hours of July 29 with your cohorts and kept on blowing your horn. Is this a decent action of a supposed upright man claiming to be the company president?” Leo Rey asked.
The “control” of the Dumaguete City facilities by Roy, Ricky, Emily and Celina’s group, however, was short-lived.
After their takeover past 11 p.m. of July 25, the camp of the family matriarch Olivia, Leo Rey and sister Ginette Yanson-Dumancas, regained control of the premises last Sunday, July 28.
“The actions of Roy and Ricky were, no doubt, clear infraction of the law. In the first place, with the assistance of armed companions, they barged into a property privately owned by Mommy, a clear case of trespassing. Isn’t trespassing violative of our existing laws?” Leo Rey stressed.
That’s why as a result of their wrongful moves, it is the prerogative of Mommy to take legal action against them because she had been violated, he added.
Due to violations made, he continued, it was but proper for their mother to seek PNP assistance because she owns the property trespassed by Roy and armed companions.
Isn’t it the right thing to do? Call for police help if there are lawless elements in your premises? he added.
Leo Rey also has this to say to his brother: “I’m appealing to Manong Roy, stop talking like a parrot. Understand every word that you say”.
“I hate to say this Manong Roy but you talk garbage most of the time. Like what Mommy told you, please focus on your health. Stop being the puppet of your three siblings. Be man enough and stop allowing yourself to be exploited. Have pity and respect yourself. They are merely using you to satisfy their greed. Wake up, Manong Roy,” Leo Rey’s appeal continued.