MANILA, April 12 -- Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. on Friday called on concerned government agencies to intensify their crackdown against "colorum" vehicles or those operating without any franchises.

This came after the arrest of a woman who name-dropped Abalos as her uncle and attempted to negotiate with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) over the apprehension of a van caught with an expired registration.

"The intensified operations against colorum PUVs is the start of our response to the President's (Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.) order to hit hard on their illegal operations and ensure that they will be weeded out entirely in our roads in support of legitimate transport ...