Senator Gatchalian Affirms He Has Never Shared His ‘7’ Protocol Plate
CONTROVERSIAL PROTOCOL PLATE – Senator Win Gatchalian firmly stated that he did not lend his “7” protocol plate to anyone, following allegations connecting his brother, Kenneth Gatchalian, to a Cadillac Escalade SUV that evaded apprehension on the EDSA Busway.
The white SUV, bearing a “7” protocol plate, was captured on video bypassing the northbound lane of the Guadalupe Station and allegedly attempting to run over a Department of Transportation Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT) member. This incident led to questions about whether the plate was connected to Gatchalian.
Gatchalian clarified via a Viber message that his official protocol plate is registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and has never been lent out. He also stated that he has no connection to the SUV or the “fake” protocol plate. His office further clarified that the senator does not own the Cadillac Escalade or the plate on it, nor does he have any links to Orient Pacific Corporation, the registered owner of the vehicle.
During a media interview, Gatchalian refrained from confirming whether the vehicle belonged to his family, leaving the matter to the ongoing LTO investigation. He added that he does not condone traffic violations, stating that his 23-year public service record demonstrates a commitment to following the law.
According to GMA News, the LTO later confirmed that the “7” protocol plate was indeed fake. They revealed that fewer than 30 registered Cadillac Escalades of the same model exist in the country. The driver of the SUV, Angelito Edpan, an employee of Orient Pacific Corporation, surrendered to authorities and admitted that the vehicle is owned by the corporation. SEC records indicate that Kenneth Gatchalian, Win Gatchalian’s brother, is the president of Orient Pacific Corporation, though their lawyer did not confirm specific ownership details.
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