Gatchalian mum on SUV ownership, defers to LTO
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian neither confirmed or denied reports the sport utility vehicle (SUV) with a “7” protocol plate that ignored and nearly ran over an enforcer who had flagged it down for illegally using the Edsa busway on Sunday was owned by his family.
In a chance interview on Thursday, Gatchalian repeatedly told reporters he was leaving the investigation to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) which earlier said the white Cadillac Escalade was registered to Orient Pacific Corp. while the license plate normally reserved for senators was fake.
In a press briefing held the other day by the LTO, the driver of the vehicle, Angelito Edpan, apologized for his actions while an official of the firm, Omar Guinomla, said they had began investigating the incident.
“I saw from the news yesterday that the company representative has already issued a statement. I also saw that a fine has been settled. So let’s leave it up to the LTO to decide and handle the matter,” Gatchalian said.
“All the documents are now with the LTO. Let’s leave it to them. As far as I know, they’re also investigating,” he added when asked if the SUV belongs to his brother.
On top of situation
Pressed further if the “7” protocol plate belongs to him, Gatchalian replied: “It’s hard to comment while they’re investigating, Anyway, the LTO is on top of the situation.”
On Wednesday, Sen. Raffy Tulfo said the SUV’s passenger at the time was related to Gatchalian although he declined to identify the “elderly man.”
Citing “A1 information,” Tulfo confirmed the SUV was owned by Orient Pacific Corp. which he said had on its board Gatchalian’s father, plastics tycoon William Gatchalian, and brother, Kenneth.
He added that the SUV had picked up its passenger from the airport and was headed for a casino in Quezon City when it entered the Edsa busway.
A member of the Department of Transportation-Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation flagged down the Escalade on the northbound portion of Edsa in Guadalupe, Makati City, but the driver of the vehicle refused to stop.
