LTO chief ordered to go on ‘official leave’

It’s official now.

President Arroyo ordered yesterday Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief, Assistant Secretary Roberto Lastimoso, to go on official leave — the Palace euphemism for a graceful exit — effective on July 15.

While she did not give the exact date when Lastimoso’s official leave would end, the President assured him he retains his post as assistant secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

"General Lastimoso will take a leave as LTO chief by July 15 and assume his new post as assistant secretary thereafter," she said.

Mrs. Arroyo appointed DOTC Undersecretary for Special Concerns Agustin Bengzon officer-in-charge (OIC) of the LTO until she finds a permanent replacement for Lastimoso.

"Undersecretary Bengzon shall do a systematic review of the agency and recommend the necessary measures to improve its effectiveness and integrity," she said.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Lastimoso filed a leave of absence. "That was his own application and it was approved by the President."

In a brief statement she issued through the Palace Press Office, the President confirmed the re-assignment of the erstwhile LTO chief.

DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza was supposed to make the official announcement yesterday, but the removal of Lastimoso was prematurely confirmed to the press by a Palace official with whom Lastimoso supposedly met on Thursday at Malacañang.

Lastimoso himself was unaware of the change in his status at the LTO until the media sought his confirmation.

In her statement, however, the President defended Lastimoso. "There is no point in heaping all the blame on (Lastimoso) for the ills of the (LTO). He did his best, but he was apparently overwhelmed by the morass of problems. We have to move on from here."

She also commended Lastimoso, whom she subjected to a public tongue-lashing on June 9 at the LTO head office on East Avenue, Quezon City.

Mrs. Arroyo let loose her famed temper during a surprise inspection of the LTO head office, where she saw that cashiers’ offices were already closed at 4 p.m. instead of open until 5 p.m. The presence of many people loitering about the LTO compound amid reports of "fixers" plying their illegal trade within the premises also drew her ire.

The President paid a visit to the LTO after informants reported allegations of rampant graft and corruption at the LTO, including reports of its connivance with private drug-testing centers raking in money from the drug tests required of those applying for and renewing licenses.

Reports of Lastimoso’s ouster came a few days after the President lauded the "housecleaning" at the LTO, which, she said, along with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), reported significant increases in their collections.

The LTO is the third biggest revenue collector of the government after the BIR and the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

In a press statement issued by the DOTC, Mendoza said Lastimoso would report to Undersecretary for Land Transportation Arturo Valdez. His new duties will focus on the regulatory, enforcement, operations, policy review and policy formulation functions.

DOTC sources said Lastimoso would be considered on "floating status" until Valdez assigns tasks to him. The sources said this is unlikely, since all jobs and tasks at the DOTC central office are already being performed by the existing DOTC head office personnel.

Mendoza said Lastimoso will continue to implement reforms at the LTO while waiting for the formal turnover of his old post to Bengzon, who is out of the country on an official mission and will be back on July 9.— With Ranier Allan Ronda