A RELATIVE of Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos was apprehended yesterday for alleged involvement in colorum or illegal vehicle operation, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said.
The agency said Jaz Abalos was arrested in an entrapment operation conducted by a composite team from the MMDA and the Department of Transportation.
The operation also led to the apprehension of the driver of the colorum passenger van identified as Antonio Mirasol, who presented a fake driver’s license.
MMDA Special Operations Group-Strike Force Officer-in-Charge Gabriel Go said the composite team conducted intensified operations against colorum vehicles along Araneta Ave. in Cubao, Quezon City.
The team accosted a passenger van driven with an expired vehicle registration driven by Mirasol.
Go said passengers paid P200 to the van operator to take them to Laguna.
MMDA Assistant General Manager for Operations David Angelo Vargas said Abalos went to the MMDA Head Office in Pasig City to “negotiate” regarding the colorum violation and “explicitly claimed that she is the niece of Secretary Abalos.
“Upon verification, it turned out that the woman is a relative of the DILG chief. She was recognized by one of the members of Abalos family through her photo and name,” Vargas said.
The MMDA official said they immediately informed the DILG chief that the woman name-dropped his name to evade apprehension.
Charges for falsification of public documents with conspiracy, estafa, resistance and disobedience, and light threat are now being readied against Abalos and Mirasol.
