‘Sa mga LTO, sayang yung bayad niyo sa mga intel dito sa Cagayan…yung nag-report tanggalin na’ - Atty. Roger Paz on issue involving former Allacapan Mayor and alleged gas attendant

Lorraine Bacullo

Allacapan, Cagayan – Amid the ongoing discussions on social media regarding the viral video involving former Allacapan Mayor Harry Florida and an alleged gas attendant, Tyson Serrano, a lawyer has criticized the Land Transportation Office (LTO) over what he described as “faulty intelligence,” urging the agency to remove the informant behind the report.

In a video posted on his personal account, Attorney Roger Real Paz said the information relayed to the LTO was inaccurate, particularly the claim that a vehicle linked to Florida left a gasoline station without paying, prompting Serrano to chase it.

Paz said he personally witnessed the incident and denied the allegation against Florida, insisting that no such violation occurred. He explained that they had just come from a meeting at the gasoline station and were on their way to a nearby eatery when the incident happened.

The station was later revealed to be owned by Florida himself.

“Bakit ako nagsasalita ng ganito? Dahil isa ako doon—nauna yung sasakyan ko sa kanila (Florida)—I was there. We had a meeting doon sa opisina sa gasolinahan. Eto namang matandang lalake na naghahabol, si Tyson, hindi po siya matanda—halos kaedaran lang naming yan. I am 44 and I think Tyson is only 46. Natapos ang meeting namin, umalis kami para magmeryenda…nung paalis kami, humabol yan dahil gusto niya na sumama sa meryenda namin,” he said.

According to Paz, the man seen in the viral video was not a gas attendant but a long-time acquaintance of the group, treated like family—a cheerful man from Pampanga who has long been part of the Florida circle.

Paz further stressed that the narrative of fleeing without paying is misleading and potentially libelous. He questioned the basis of the LTO’s actions, including the issuance of a show cause order and the reported suspension of the driver’s license, saying these were based on incorrect information.

He also called on the agency to review its intelligence sources in the province.

“…yung nagsasabing nagpakarga ng gas—wala pong tinakbuhan si ex-mayor doon. So yung mga lumalabas na kesyo nagpakarga at tinakbuhan, libelous po yun. Alam niyo naman na ang cyber libel ay may karampatang criminal liability yan. Sa mga LTO naman, Sir, sayang yung pinagbabayad niyo sa mga intel dito sa Cagayan. Yung nag-report po sa inyo, tanggalin mo na dahil nagsisinungaling yan. Hindi po yan (Tyson) gas attendant. Yan po ay buddy-buddy namin—ni ex-mayor na dala dala niya pagsakay niya ng yate, pag pumupunta ng Boracay na naka-yate or chopper—lahat. Pag napupunta sa 5-star hotel, kasa-kasama niya yan,” he said.

The viral video, which circulated widely on social media, has sparked mixed reactions online, with netizens divided over what truly transpired during the incident. As of this writing, the LTO has yet to issue a new statement addressing Paz’s claims.