DOTC official faces graft raps for shares in firm

MANILA, Philippines - A ranking official of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is facing graft charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly failing to divest himself of his shares in a private firm that transacts business with an office directly under the agency.  

Undersecretary for Planning Rene Limcaoco is also accused of violating Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Leon Peralta, founding chairman of the group Anti-Trapo Movement, said the respondent relinquished his post as chairman and president of Golden Point Auto Care Inc., the franchising corporation of Rapid Auto Service Experts, after being appointed to his position in August 2011.

However, he said Limcaoco failed to divest himself of his shares in the company and remains one of its major stockholders to date in blatant violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The complaint is backed by certified true copies of the General Information Sheet of Golden Point Auto Care Inc. for the years 2009 to 2012, as released by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), showing Limcaoco as a major stockholder with 20 percent of its total subscribed capital as of November 2012. Peralta, in a statement, said that Limcaoco’s situation is alarming and scandalous. Listed in the website of Rapid Auto Service Experts (http://www.officebusters.net/rapide/wp/about/) among its Corporate Fleet Accounts is the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), an office directly under the DOTC, and Aboitiz Transport and Airfreight 2100 or Air 21, which maintains business transactions with the DOTC and/or other agencies under it.