Go reaffirms drive to end LTFRB anomalies

CEBU, Philippines – Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-7 Regional Director Benjamin Go yesterday assured he is serious of his statement to cancel the franchises of vehicles, acquired through falsification.

In a letter to The FREEMAN columnist Leo Lastimosa, Go said efforts will center "specifically on the illegal Kabit System where the anomalous documents are so glaring and blatant. In the suspected anomalous taxi franchises, the paper trail is much more sophisticated and complicated. Thus, it will take more energy, effort and time."

It was Go himself who exposed the alleged anomalous activities at LTFRB that he discovered when he assumed office six months ago.

"Due to the sheer number of suspected anomalous franchises, I will merely resort to random sampling. I cannot audit every single one of them, alone, by myself. I am alone in this undertaking. I cannot delegate this task to people who had a direct participation in the processing of these franchises precisely because they are the subjects of this investigation," Go told Lastimosa.

He said that because he does not have a "battery of lawyers" at his office to assist him in the investigation, he asked the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) in Manila to help audit the franchises.

Go also assured due process will be observed throughout the investigation.

"I would also want to emphasize that any procedure for franchise cancellations must undergo due process, complete with summons and hearings. It is my desire to have media presence during the franchise cancellation hearings," he said.

Go revealed earlier that some of his personnel seem to be involved in the questionable granting of franchises to several taxi operators even beyond 2003 when LTFRB has suspended the granting of taxi franchises.

Richard Cabucos, president of the Metro Cebu Taxi Operators Associations (MCTOA), admired Go's courage, saying "Tan-awon nato og unsay iyang mahimo sa sindikato sa LTFRB."

Cabucos said most of the taxi operators in Cebu reportedly know who "insisted" to grant the franchises despite the suspension order from DOTC. He, however, refused to divulge the names.

Personnel at LTFRB-7, including the public information officer, refused to be interviewed.

Aside from the alleged questionable issuance of franchises, Go also exposed the questionable activities of some persons who managed to acquire "tourist vehicles" franchises for their units by pretending that their vehicles had been sold to certain companies.

Go said the scheme can be easily detected because many of the vehicles were mortgaged to different banks that released certain amount of loans to private individuals.

"Klaro kaayo nga ang deed of sales gihimo-himo ra nga aron nga maisyuhan og franchise ang sakyanan ubos sa existing tousist company," he said. (FREEMAN)