‘NO MONEY, NO FEUD’: Yanson matriarch rues kids’ row

By: Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – “It pains me to see my children quarrelling over money.”

These were the painful words uttered by Olivia Yanson before more than 3,000 employees of Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI) as to the infighting between her six children over control of the company that operates the Ceres Bus Lines.

VTI employees gathered on July 9, 2019 at the Yanson family’s rest house at Brgy. Bubog, Talisay City, Negros Occidental in a show of support to Olivia and her youngest son Leo Rey who was ousted as president and CEO of the company during a board meeting on Sunday.

Those who voted against Leo Rey were his siblings Roy V. Yanson, Emily V. Yanson, Ma. Lourdes  Celina Y. Lopez and Ricardo Yanson Jr. They voted Roy as the new president and CEO of VTI while Leo Rey remains a member of the board of directors.

As of Monday, Roy has held office at the VTI main office in Brgy.Mansilingan here.

Another sibling, Ginette Y. Dumancas showed up at their family’s rest house to show support to their mother and Leo Rey.

ILLEGAL

Leo Rey has questioned the ouster saying that the board meeting was illegal.

In a memo, the youngest Yanson claimed that on Sunday evening, his office employees at Barangay Mansilingan in Bacolod City were “coerced, intimidated, threatened, and illegally detained.”

He further claimed that the civil liberties and the rights of privacy of his employees were also violated which caused stress, psychological and emotional pain.

Because of the incident, Leo Rey ordered the affected offices to have a day-off on July 9,2019.

However, one of the company’s employees showed to the media a message allegedly coming from Roy Yanson’s camp ordering them to return to work or they will be “dealt accordingly.”

Despite the warnings and what they called as “clear intimidation,” Leo Rey’s supporters still showed up at their property in Talisay City for the gathering.

 

‘COIN TOSS SOLUTION’

In his speech to his supporters, Leo Rey pointed out that the company would have not grown to a workforce of 18,000 employees and 4,000 bus units if not for his hard work.

He pointed out that he offered a solution to his siblings by dividing the company’s Visayas and Mindanao operations via coin toss but they refused.

“This company of ours today, I am proud to say that we are now the biggest transport company in the country and in Asia,” Leo Rey said.

The younger Yanson said he still hopes that the issues between him and his siblings will be resolved and he asked his supporters not to forget their mother.

Earlier, Atty. Sheila Sison sent a press statement to members of the media last Sunday indicating Roy was appointed company president.