Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. said on Friday, April 12, that there shall be no sacred cow in the government's fight against illegal activities after the arrest of a woman claiming to be his niece in an anti-colorum operation in Quezon City.
Abalos said that he was informed about the case of a certain "Jaz Abalos" who explicitly introduced herself as a relative of the DILG chief to evade apprehension after being caught allegedly for operating a colorum or unauthorized passenger van in Cubao on Thursday, April 11.
"Noong naririnig ko na may gumagamit ng pangalan na kamag-anak ko raw, I told my personal security hulihin niyo ito (When I heard that someone is using my name and claiming to be a relative of mine, I told my personal security to arrest her)," Abalos said.
According to Abalos, a composite team of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), DILG, and Department of Transportation (DOTr) flagged down colorum vehicles in Cubao, including a van with license plate DAY 1423 driven by one Antonio Mirasol.
Mirasol was arrested by authorities after he presented a fake driver's license, according to the DILG.
Jaz then personally went to the MMDA office in Pasig City to "negotiate" with the agency following the apprehension of the van which, according to the DILG, she operates.
The MMDA said that Jaz was recognized by one of the members of the Abalos family "through her photo and name".
Abalos, on the other hand, did not confirm whether the apprehended lady is actually her niece.
Further, the Interior secretary said blood ties is not a reason to evade one's responsibilities.
"Pagdating sa ganyang kalokahan, dito wala kang pinipili, dapat lahat hulihin mo. ‘Pag nagsabing kamag-anak mo, o kaibigan mo, walang mangyayari sa bansa natin kung puro palakasan (When it comes to such nefarious activities, you should not choose who to arrest, all of the wrong-doers must be caught. If you don't, just because they say they are relative or friend of someone in authority, nothing will happen in our country)," the DILG chief stressed.
The anti-colorum operation was done a day after President Marcos directed the DILG and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to intensify crackdown against colorum public utility vehicles (PUVs).
"The intensified operations against colorum PUVs is the start of our response to the President's order to hit hard on their illegal operations and ensure that they will be weeded out entirely in our roads in support of legitimate transport operators and the riding public who are at risk when patronizing these kind of PUVs," Abalos emphasized.
Both "Jaz" and Mirasol are facing charges of falsification of public documents with conspiracy, estafa, resistance and disobedience, and light threat.