LTO-7 starts probe versus six agents

CEBU, Philippines - The Land Transportation Office-7 yesterday started its investigation into the alleged harassment committed by six of its deputized agents against the daughter of a Cebu City official.

LTO-7 director Raul Aguilos has ordered his operations chief Macario Getruelas to look into the complaint of Karen Olvido, daughter of city treasurer Ofelia Oliva.

Aguilos however clarified that the operation conducted by the members of the Task Force Alpha where the alleged harassment occurred was legitimate and authorized by him. He said it was supervised by a regular LTO enforcer.

“We are still waiting for the rest of the result of the investigation being conducted. Rest assured that we will impose the necessary sanctions against our deputized agents if they had violated our existing procedure and guidelines in our roadside law enforcement activity,” Aguios said.

The six Task Force Alpha members however claimed that they were the victims in the incident. Stephen Ybañez, one of the six agents, said they were the ones being harassed by Olvido.

Ybañez said they were just doing their duties as deputized agents of LTO over the weekend when they flagged down Olvido’s vehicle on Escario Street because of a traffic violation.Ybañez said Olvido’s vehicle had a defective headlight.

According to him, Olvido actually had three traffic violations when she was flagged down by them. Aside from a defective headlight, she was liable for being discourteous and operating an unregistered vehicle. 

Ybañez said he politely greeted Olvido, informed of her traffic violation and demanded for her driver’s license. However, Olvido was allegedly arrogant telling him to wait as she phoned her mother.

 “Mao ba? Manawag ko sa CITOM. Mama nako treasurer,” Ybañez recalled Olvido’s words to him.

After the call, Olvido reportedly ordered him to just tap the defective headlight. Ybañez admitted having asked Olvido if she was ordering him.

“Isip parte sa among policy, di gyud mi pwede mo-hapak sa sakyanan tingalig maguba ug kami pasanginlan, (as a policy we are not allowed to hit the car because it might cause damage and will be held answerable to it),” he said.

Ybañez alleged that Olvido got angry and closed the driver’s window ignoring his demand for her driver’s license.

 “Insulto kaayo to iyang gibuhat kay gi-sirad-an ka sa bintana (what she did was an insult to me),” he said.

Thinking that the situation was getting out of hand, Ybañez sought the help of their team leader, Celestino “Bimboy” Arnaiz Jr., who was also reportedly harassed by Olvido.

Ybañez denied harassing the city treasurer who was onboard her city-issued vehicle when she arrived at the scene. He likewise denied asking her husband into a fistfight. (FREEMAN)