Palace to LTO chief: Name congressmen in car smuggling

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang has joined the call for Land Transportation Office chief Alberto Suansing to identify the lawmakers who allegedly tried to register imported second-hand vehicles and to file the appropriate charges against them.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol said the Palace supports the LTO chief’s efforts to crack down on the smuggling of imported used vehicles.

“The Palace will support government officials who are only doing their job,” he said. “We hope the congressmen would not take this the wrong way, but we also urge the LTO to name names and act accordingly. This is a serious matter because the President herself ordered a ban on the importation of second-hand vehicles.”

This developed as the leader of a jeepney federation yesterday hit Speaker Prospero Nograles and other members of the House of Representatives for criticizing the LTO’s move to review the issuance of protocol plates to lawmakers and top government officials.

Zeny Maranan, president of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEDJODAP), said the “outburst” of Nograles is uncalled for since the LTO is just carrying out its mandate to enforce transportation laws.

“If he (Nograles) has nothing to hide why is he angry?” Maranan told The STAR in telephone interview.

Maranan said the transport sector is fully supporting the reforms initiated by Suansing, who assumed the post last February.

She said the transport sector always welcomes moves that would benefit jeepney operators and the riding public, adding that the review of the issuance of “8” protocol plates would be a great help in stopping the proliferation of fake license plates.

“Speaker Nograles, as public servant, should lead by example. He should not show any arrogance particularly if it concerns public interest, that’s why they are elected as representatives of the people,” she said.

‘Recall all special plates’

Nograles yesterday called on Suansing to stop singling out lawmakers and recall all commemorative and vanity plates that are being sold to private individuals for tens of thousands of pesos.

“If he wants to recall these (No. 8) plates, the House will not object, but he should also recall all plates and leave only the number 1 and 2 plates which are designated for the Office of the President and the Vice President,” he said.

Vanity plates are sold from P10,000 to as much as P50,000 each, while commemorative plates are sold for P15,000 to P25,000 per piece.

The LTO website has been advertising the sale of these plates to motorists.

In a statement, Nograles also lamented that Suansing has been complaining that some House members have been forcing him to register smuggled luxury vehicles.

“Accusing people is so easy to do but the bigger question is, what did he do with this information? As head of the LTO, he should have known that mere possession of a smuggled vehicle, which is allegedly being registered at his office, is a serious felony,” he said.

“Why is it that he did not file charges and decide just now to talk about it to the media? (It) is only another solid indication of his incapacity to perform his job at the LTO. Because if this allegation is true, he should have immediately filed charges against the congressmen.”

Nograles said public officials, whether elected or appointed, are not protected by any immunity in the commission of crimes like smuggling and possession of a smuggled vehicle.

“The only thing that Suansing has done so far is to make sweeping allegations by tagging unidentifiable personalities in alleged violations of laws, which he is supposed to uphold without fear or favor,” he said.

“He should name names instead of making blind accusations. And, if what he is saying is supported by evidence, he should have filed cases in court. It makes me wonder now if he really knows what he is doing as LTO chief,” he added.

Nograles said the House would conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the allegations of Suansing and into the widespread illegal rackets at the LTO.

 “We have to get to the bottom of all these things,” he said. “Since Suansing seems incapable of carrying out the mandate of his office, the House will make its recommendations to the President based on our findings.”

“We also hope to craft a measure to enhance the operations of the LTO because it seems to me that the LTO chief cannot do this by himself,” he added. – With Delon Porcalla and Marvin Sy