• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A 78-year-old retired executive of the Yanson Group of Bus Companies (YGBC) has filed criminal complaints against his cousin, Olivia Villarias Yanson, and his nephew, Leo Rey Yanson, following his acquittal in a carnapping case that had been filed against him.
Antonio Zerna, through his lawyer Dino De Leon, filed a complaint for perjury and falsification against Olivia Yanson before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Bacolod City on July 9.
A separate complaint for alleged falsification of a private document was filed against Leo Rey Yanson before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Batangas City on July 3.
In a statement on Thursday, De Leon said the complaints seek to hold accountable those allegedly responsible for executing documents containing false statements that led to the filing and prosecution of the carnapping case against Zerna.
Zerna was first arrested in 2020 after a carnapping complaint was filed against him before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental. The case was later dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
In March 2022, another carnapping complaint was filed against him before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Batangas City.
De Leon said the complaint against Leo Rey Yanson questions a certification dated Feb. 8, 2021, stating that Zerna was not authorized to possess or use a Toyota Fortuner assigned to him during his service with the Yanson Group.
The certification allegedly declared that Zerna had no authority from the board of directors or any company officer of Ceres Transport (CTT) Inc. to use or possess the vehicle.
The complaint against Olivia Yanson, meanwhile, centers on a secretary’s certificate authorizing the filing of the carnapping complaint against Zerna and general information sheets she allegedly filed as corporate secretary of CTT.
These documents reportedly altered the declared composition of the company’s board of directors and shareholders and were used to establish corporate authority in pursuing the carnapping case.
De Leon alleged that Olivia Yanson falsely certified under oath that she was the duly elected and incumbent corporate secretary of CTT, that a special meeting of the board of directors had been validly conducted with a quorum, and that the board had authorized the filing of the carnapping complaint.
He said these documents became material evidence in the prosecution of the case against Zerna.
In November 2023, the trial court acquitted Zerna of the carnapping charge after ruling that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The court also acknowledged the existence of an intra-corporate dispute within CTT and found that Zerna possessed the vehicle with color of authority.
De Leon also recalled that Zerna’s wife of 50 years died in September 2023 after suffering severe stress, which he attributed to the emotional toll brought about by the criminal prosecution.
Zerna joined the Yanson Group in 1969 and later served as general manager for its Mindanao operations.
He worked closely with the late Ricardo Yanson Sr. and continued assisting in company operations after the latter’s death.
The Yanson Group of Bus Companies includes Vallacar Transit Inc., Mindanao Star Bus Transport Inc., Bachelor Express Inc., Southern Star Bus Transit Inc., Gold Star Bus Transit Inc., Rural Transit Inc., and Ceres Transport Inc.
“For decades, Mr. Zerna faithfully served the Yanson Group, yet he found himself facing criminal charges,” De Leon said. | GPB
