LTO aide indicted

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has found probable cause to indict an administrative aide of the Land Transportation Office at its Carcar City District Office for usurpation of official function.

Graft investigation and prosecution officer II Maria Corazon Vergara-Naraja found enough evidence to hold Rogelio Barron for trial for confiscating the driver’s license of Dante Tanjay without authority.

Tanjay alleged that on November 19, 2013, while he was driving a six-wheeler cargo truck along the national highway, he stopped at a gasoline station in Barangay Ward III in Minglanilla town.

However, when he was about to move back, he was allegedly hit by a minibus. A minibus passenger, later identified as Barron, disembarked and introduced himself as an LTO consultant assigned at the Regional Office.

Tanjay told Barron that they should ask the police from the nearest police station to investigate the accident, but the latter allegedly told him that it was no longer necessary since he was from LTO.

Tanjay said his driver’s license was confiscated by Barron.

Tanjay said he went to the LTO Regional Office several times to retrieve his driver’s license and to settle the matter with Barron.

But Barron allegedly demanded a huge amount of money to pay the damages of the minibus and its passengers.

In his counter-affidavit, Barron denied that he demanded money from the complainant. He admitted though that he confiscated the driver’s license of Tanjay and turned it over to Ronald Lim, an LTO employee.

Barron also denied that he introduced himself as a consultant but an LTO accountant.

With the foregoing facts, Naraja ruled in favor of Tanjay that Barron had no authority to confiscate his driver’s license. However, she disregarded the allegation of Tanjay that Barron demanded money from him.

“The office finds complainant’s allegation that respondent demanded money from him unsupported by evidence. Complainant even failed to specify the amount demanded for him. For vagueness and lack of evidentiary support, the office rejects the accusations,” the resolution reads.  (FREEMAN)