Win Gatchalian refuses to confirm SUV with '7' plate owned by kin

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian neither confirmed nor denied Thursday the white SUV with protocol plate number "7" that used EDSA busway was owned by his kin, saying he leaves the investigation to the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

"Kahapon nanood ako ng news, nakita ko 'yung representative ng company may statement na tapos nakita ko rin na nagbayad na ng fine so iwan na lang natin sa LTO kung ano 'yung kanilang desisyon at 'yung kanilang gagawin," Gatchalian said in an ambush interview.

(Yesterday, I watched the news and I saw the representative of the company had already given a statement and I saw that he already paid the fine so let's just leave it to the LTO on what their decision will be.)

Asked again if the SUV was owned by his brother, Gatchalian said, "Andun na sa LTO 'yung mga documents so iwan na lang natin sa LTO."

(The documents are already with the LTO so let's leave it to the LTO.)

"Mahirap namang magcomment habang nag-iimbestiga sila. The LTO naman ay on top of the situation," he added.

(It is hard to issue a comment while they are investigating. I think, the LTO is already on top of the situation.)

In a separate statement, Gatchalian said he does not "condone the traffic violations committed by the management of Orient Pacific Corporation."

He noted that in his 23 years of public service, he has always "adhered to following the rules and the law of our land."

"Susunod tayo sa batas sa lahat ng pagkakataon. Ito ang ating prinsipyo bilang isang lingkod-bayan sa loob ng mahabang panahon," he said.

(We will follow the law at all times. This is our principle as a public servant for a long time.)

"The issue is now with the Land Transportation Office, and it is the agency’s responsibility to resolve the matter accordingly," he added.

Last Sunday, the Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT) posted a video of a white SUV with a '7' protocol plate escaping apprehension after it passed through the EDSA busway at Guadalupe Station's northbound lane and "attempted to run over" Secretariat Sarah Barnachea of the DOTr-SAICT at 6:58 p.m. of the same day.

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

The SUV driver on Wednesday presented himself to the authorities.

The driver was identified as Angelito Edpan, 52, an employee of Orient Pacific Corporation, which owns the involved vehicle.

The LTO said the vehicle was registered under Orient Pacific Corporation.

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

The firm's lawyer, however, would not disclose the owner or officials of Orient Pacific Corporation.—AOL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News