Win Gatchalian's brod is president of firm that owns SUV on EDSA busway —SEC paper

The white SUV with the protocol plate No. 7 that fled after using the EDSA busway is registered under a corporation which according to its Securities and Exchance Commission information sheet has the brother of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as president.

According to Joseph Morong's report on "24 Oras," the Land Transport Office said the vehicle was registered under the company named Orient Pacific Corporation.

The firm's lawyer, however, would not disclose the owner or officials of Orient Pacific.

“We cannot confirm. The names of the directors and the stockholder may be found in the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), it’s a public record but right now we’re not authorized to divulge their names due to their rights, privacy,” said Atty. Maria Juliet Santos, lawyer of Orient Pacific Corp. at a news conference at the LTO.

The company was unable to explain why the vehicle has a protocol plate number 7, which only senators can use.

The LTO said that it would request the company’s information sheet from the SEC.

In a copy obtained by GMA Integrated News Research, the president of Orient Pacific Corporation is Kenneth T. Gatchalian, a brother of the senator and a candidate for congressman.

GMA Integrated News has reached out to the Gatchalian brothers, but the senator earlier said he does not have a white Cadillac Escalade vehicle.

“Ako wala. Wala akong ganyang sasakyan (I don’t any vehicle like that),” Senator Gatchalian said

The SUV driver on Wednesday presented himself to the authorities. 

“Akala ko sir eh pwede ako makapasok kasi nagmamadali po ako sir sumasakit po yung tiyan ko eh. Medyo not feeling well ako nun sir kaya gusto ko sumubok na dumaan dun sir,” driver Angelito Edpan said.

(I thought I could enter the EDSA busway since I was in a hurry because I had a stomach ache. I was not feeling well so I wanted to try using the busway.)

There were four passengers in the SUV, the driver said.

Edpan was not seen in the video but the passenger beside him was caught on camera, while the passenger at the back, who partly rolled down the window, was an investor.

The LTO earlier said the number “7” protocol plate was fake. 

“Hindi nga amin ‘yun. Peke in the sense na legitimate, LTO issued, hindi kami may gawa,”  LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said.

“The company sincerely apologizes for what happened. hindi po namin ginusto yun (it was not in our intention). Rest assured we will cooperate in the investigation,” said Omar Guinomla, director of Orient Pacific Corp.

Edpan received a traffic violation ticket and was fined P9,000 for illegal use of protocol plate and disregarding traffic signs by entering the EDSA busway.

The LTO said only the driver will be held accountable for entering the EDSA busway.

However, the LTO said it would issue a show cause order against Orient Pacific Corp. to investigate additional violations against the driver and owner of the vehicle. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, Integrated News