PB wants LTO Toledo investigated

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Board is asking for the investigation and audit of the Land Transportation Office in Toledo amid allegations of graft and corruption.

In its weekly regular session yesterday, the provincial board approved PB member Caesar Ian Zambo’s resolution requesting the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) to investigate and audit LTO Toledo for the alleged violation of the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) in the processing of their transactions.

Zambo’s office recently received numerous written and verbal complaints from various stakeholders that transactions at the LTO-Toledo City District Office are allegedly “stalled” to charge P200 additional fee per transaction.

“Based on confidential and documented information, the said office is allegedly processing registration documents of illegally procured and undocumented vehicles,” Zambo’s resolution reads.

A staff of Zambo said a group of complainants went to their office and showed about a hundred signatures expressing their complaint against the said office in Toledo City.

In September last year, the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed a string of cases against officials of LTO, including those from the Toledo City District Office, who were tagged in allegations of irregular issuance of various certificates of registration.

One of the respondents, Gavino Paden, then officer-in-charge of the LTO in Toledo City, was sued for grave misconduct, gross and inexcusable negligence, falsification, and for alleged violation of RA 3019.

In June 2007, the LTO’s Toledo City District Office issued a certificate of registration for a vehicle without showing “already existing encumbrance.” The car was already issued with the same certificate by another LTO district office earlier. (FREEMAN)