DAGUPAN CITY – Lawyer Teofilo E. Guadiz III, Regional Director of LTO - Region 1, disputed the allegation of Vice President Leni Robredo’s camp and the VP Leni Media Bureau that there was harassment during their campaign sortie in Pangasinan.

Guadiz issued the statement in reaction to the allegation that the buses and jeepneys hired by Leni’s camp to carry the VP’s supporters to campaign rally had backed out on fears that their licenses would be revoked.

Cuadiz said the allegation stemmed from the cancelled trips of buses and jeepneys.

He made it clear that no public utility vehicles (PUV) that carried passengers to a political rally in Dagupan City were ever apprehended despite their wanton violation of the law.

“Second, the PUVs were merely forewarned that they should not carry passengers if; (1) they have no valid franchise, or even if they have a valid franchise if (2) their route does not cover the area where the political exercise will take place - Dagupan City. However, if the PUVs wish to take passengers in Dagupan City even if the same is not their approved route, they may do so provided that they (3) secure a special permit from the LTFRB,” Cuadiz said in a statement sent to the Manila Bulletin.

And because they were forewarned, the PUV operators chose not to take the route to Dagupan City.

Guadiz said those who never understood the issue cried "harassment".

“It seems that the camp of VP Leni loves to portray the role of an underdog to secure the sympathy of the unsuspecting public. Had they known the law or complied with the law, the buses would have been able to transport the passengers to Dagupan City,” Guadiz said.

He also said that it is bad that the Leni Camp manipulates public sentiment when the law is not in their favor.

“It is the worst that they put the blame on innocent law enforcers - such as the LTO - for their lapses, when the latter is merely enforcing the law,” he added.