LTO chief still mum on casino issue

MANILA, Philippines - Land Transportation Office chief Assistant Secretary Virginia Torres is keeping her silence on criticisms hurled against her over a video showing her playing the slot machine at a casino.

In an interview yesterday, Torres stressed that she would wait for the investigation by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

“I will speak on the matter in due time,” she said.

Malacañang had said it would not sack Torres without due process, citing the probe being conducted by the DOTC. 

Torres told a recent budget hearing at the House of Representatives that she was ready to be investigated even as she denied any wrongdoing.

Torres said the video – taken in a place showing rows of slot machines – was “done with malice.”

She told the House appropriations committee that the place where the video was taken was not a casino, but she did not say where it was.

Malacañang Memorandum Circular 8 bans public servants “from entering or playing” in casinos.