Win Gatchalian: I never lent my '7' protocol plate to anyone

Sherwin Gatchalian said Friday that he has never lent his protocol plate to anyone amid information linking his brother, Kenneth Gatchalian, to the white Cadillac Escalade sport utility vehicle (SUV) which illegally passed through the EDSA Busway.

"I never lent out my official-issued license plates to anyone. The official license plate [that] is installed on my car is duly registered with the LTO (Land Transportation Office)," Gatchalian told reporters in a Viber message.

The lawmaker was responding to a previous media query asking if he owns the protocol plate, but was only used by his brother.

Earlier in the day, Gatchalian's office also said the lawmaker does not own the "fake" number "7" protocol plate on the white SUV. It also denied that Gatchalian has links to the Orient Pacific Corporation—the listed owner of the vehicle.

"Senator Gatchalian was not involved in the incident at the EDSA busway in Guadalupe and was not inside the vehicle when it occurred... The senator does not own the fake protocol plate of the said SUV," the statement released by Gatchalian's office read.

"The senator does not own the Cadillac Escalade. The vehicle is registered under Orient Pacific Corporation. Furthermore, Senator Gatchalian has no connection to Orient Pacific Corporation whatsoever," the statement added.

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

"Mahirap namang mag-comment habang nag-iimbestiga sila. The LTO naman ay on top of the situation," Gatchalian told reporters.

(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 said 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.)

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 the 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, according to Senate President Francis Escudero. Last Tuesday, the agency said initial information showed that there are less than 30 registered owners of the same car model, the Cadillac Escalade.

The SUV driver on Wednesday presented himself to the authorities. He 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 of the company's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) information sheet 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, did not disclose the owner or officials of Orient Pacific Corporation. — VDV, GMA Integrated News