A TOTAL of 197 policemen from Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) and Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) were deployed at the Ceres South Terminal in Samboc, Lopez Jaena, Bacolod City, on Wednesday, August 7.
Nocppo director Police Colonel Romeo Baleros said a total of 120 personnel from Nocppo were deployed in Bacolod upon the request of BCPO director Police Colonel Henry Biñas to maintain the peace and order at the Ceres South Terminal.
This, after tension arose early morning Wednesday at the Ceres South Terminal when its chief finance officer Celina Yanson-Lopez announced to temporarily stop the operation of the Ceres bus after they found out that the security guards of Armored Guards Negros Security Agency (AGNSA) have been reinstalled by the police at the terminal.
Baleros said the personnel of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) were also deployed in the area.
“We are here to support the Supervisory office on Security and Investigation Agencies (Sosia) in the implementation of memorandum issued by the chief of Sosia that the former security services provider, the AGNSA, will be installed and the cancellation of services contract of AY-76 Security Agency,” he said.
On Tuesday, a team from BCPO “took over” the task of securing the Ceres bus terminal in Samboc, Lopez Jaena, Bacolod City and asked the security personnel hired by company president Roy Yanson to vacate the premises.
READ: Cops 'take over' Ceres terminal in Bacolod
The move was made amid the worsening boardroom conflict among the Yanson siblings, who own and manage Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI), operator of the Ceres buses.
AY-76 Security Agency was hired by Roy, the eldest of the Yanson siblings, after he was installed by three of his siblings as the new president of the Yanson Group of Companies.
Roy and three of his siblings -- Ricardo Jr., Celina and Emily -- ousted their younger brother, Leo Rey, as company president.
Baleros explained that there’s a specific provision in the implementing rules and regulation of Republic Act 5487 that no private security service provider can enter into a contract with a certain establishment or company with conflict of claim.
“That’s why we are here to support the Sosia because Sosia has the power and authority to implement the memorandum. We are here to maintain the peace and order and to avoid the supporters of the both camps to have heated arguments that will result to violence,” Baleros said.
He said his personnel will stay in the area as long as they are needed by the BCPO.
“It’s the BCPO director who will be the one to determine on when they will lower down their personnel,” he added.
Hundreds of passengers were also stranded Wednesday and some of them preferred to stay in the area.
Biñas said they locked down the terminal to prevent violence from the supporters of both camps who were also staying outside the terminal.
“We are here to maintain the peace and order and to secure the safety of the passengers,” he said.
Police Captain Elmer Bonilla, chief of Police Station 6, said they arrested four bus drivers and conductors after they were caught involved in a scuffle with the reinstated AGNSA security guards.
He said he will wait the decision of the complaints if they will file a case against the bus drivers and conductors. (MAP)