Uncomfortable and suspicious

Ben Contreras

AMID the Marawi crisis, our group was tasked last week to provide vehicles and accompany Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) chair Andrea Domingo and her party to Iligan City to distribute relief goods prepared by the Friends of Rody Duterte (Ford) and Pagcor.

A small aircraft landed early in the morning of Wednesday at the Laguindingan airport. The vehicles were ready including our police escorts (Swat team). The convoy made a brief stop at a gas station to answer the call of nature. We were the last in a convoy of four vehicles.

Less than a kilometer from the gas station, a Toyota Fortuner suddenly cut in between us and the third vehicle, a Ford pick-up truck. Initially, we didn’t suspect anything, thinking that the Fortuner might just overtake the pick-up truck and proceed to its destination. It didn’t. It just drove with us for quite some time. We felt uncomfortable and suspicious.

Could this vehicle trying to shun checkpoints? All of us had our hazard lights on. It didn’t but simply kept pace with us.

After making a call to check its plate number, we were informed that the number is a conduction sticker. What if it was carrying something illegal, goods like drug or guns or explosives? We needed to act fast.

After communicating with our lead police car, we pulled over to check on it. The Swat team came to check but the Fortuner was fast to make an overtake move while the police flagged down the wrong vehicle. Nakalusot.

The checkpoints were alerted of the car and its number. Toward Initao, we saw a long line of vehicles and alas, the Fortuner, too. We were certain that the Fortuner will be stopped for questioning and search.

But that was not the end of it. Not far further, another vehicle that looked like a Toyota Revo tailed us with its hazard lights on. It tailed us quite a distance and again, we alerted the checkpoints. Somewhere near Manticao, the Revo was stopped by the soldiers and police.

This brings to mind the need for Land Transportation Office to hasten the delivery of the regular plates. If something untoward happened, how are we going to trace the Fortuner with just a conduction sticker? The Fortuner and Revo could be carrying what we’re afraid of.

People in any convoy going to Iligan or Marawi should check their numbers and be aware of who’s who in the group and should also have direct contact with checkpoint personnel. We can’t take any chances.

From Iligan City to the evacuation centers, a very long line of vehicles shows that the local government is dead serious in checking all vehicles no matter how long it would take.

The distribution of relief goods were made in two evacuation centers only as our time was very limited. The reality we saw was that, it’s very difficult to control people who would always take advantage of getting another possible round of goodies.

On our way back to the airport, we took an alternative road to avoid traffic. We had our lunch in Initao and by 1 pm, we were back at the Laguindingan airport.

Another mission accomplished.

• •

The first half of 2017 had been a busy time for me. I attended to many things, from volunteer work to personal endeavors that I never noticed Gold Star Daily’s anniversary. It was only when I received a notice about the celebration at Mr. Ernesto Chu’s farm that I realized it’s another year of GSD’s achievements.

But better late than never, let me congratulate all the GSD people for a job well done. I believe GSD is in the hands of able staff and good publisher.

Happy 28th anniversary!