JOINT personnel from the Task Group Colorum on Thursday impounded a total of seven vans after they conducted surprise operation in different terminals in Davao City.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Chief Inspector Milgrace Cajes Driz said they are just implementing the order issued by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte to go after these colorum vans.
It can be recalled earlier that Mayor ordered DCPO to conduct an operation against these illegal terminals as well as colorum vans.
"All of the impounded vehicles are UV Express vans. Isa nato sa mga violations ngano gidakop sila kay colorum sila (These vans are colorum and have to be impounded)," Driz told Sun.Star Davao in an interview at her office Thursday morning.
Driz said through the help of LTO and LTFRB, these vans were discovered to be colorum, adding that the close coordination with these agencies are critical.
"Each agency has a different function to perform in this operation. If the franchise of a public utility vehicle (PUV) is not registered then its under the jurisdiction of LTFRB. If there are violation on the driver or the operator then they will be handled by the LTO. While if there are traffic violations particularly on the speed limit and other city ordinances then DCPO's Traffic Group is in-charge," Driz said in the vernacular.
All vehicles are currently impounded at the LTO's motor vehicle impounding section.
Most of the impounded colorum vans are using the North Cotabato to Davao routes, Driz said.
"We will also conduct an operation in different areas as well," she said.
Driz said that penalties that will be imposed on the drivers or to the operators depend on the severity of the violations they've committed.
"If colorum ang isang van then ang LTFRB ang magpapataw ng penalty," Driz added.
The operation by the Task Group Colorum was launched after the bombing incident of a passenger van along Ecowest Drive near a van terminal at SM City Davao last week.
"Yes, factor yung bombing incident kasi part itong ating investigation kung may connection ba ito sa mga colorum vans or illegal terminals yung motive behind the incident," Driz said.
The Task Group Colorum is composed of personnel from the DCPO's Traffic Group (TG), Land Transportation Office (LTO), City Transportation and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO), and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).