Noy says he did not force LTO chief to retire

BALI – She knows what’s best for her. And it was probably the best route.

This was President Aquino’s perspective on the move of his close friend, Land Transportation Office (LTO) chair Virginia Torres, to retire from government service after she was caught on video playing at a casino.

“Perhaps this is the better route. It’s less stress for her, less stress for her family. It would also be better for the agency to attend to its concerns,” Aquino told journalists in an interview at the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel here yesterday.

Torres, a 60-year-old career official in LTO, is a shooting buddy and provincemate of the President, who hails from Tarlac.

“I don’t think I forced her (to resign). I told her about the lay of the land, quoted certain things, and she agreed with the end point,” Aquino said.

There were no harsh words as they talked about the casino issue which the Department of Transportation and Communications, the LTO’s mother agency,  is supposed to be investigating. The fate of the probe is uncertain.

“We talked. And of course, I had to explain the last issue against her. We come from the same province. I told her, ‘I don’t think I needed an explanation for this’, and she understood me,” he said.

Before Torres availed herself of retirement, an administrative investigation was being conducted against her for possible violation of Memorandum Circular No. 8 that “prohibits all government personnel from entering, staying and/or playing at gambling casinos.”

The basis for the administrative issue, according to Aquino, was “very clear.”

“She’s older than me, and a woman at that. I don’t want to give her a heavy advice. Let it not be said that salt (is) being rubbed in an injury,” he said. “Let’s give dignity to the person.”

Aquino said he never believed the criticisms hurled against Torres, but he didn’t want to reach a verdict on the casino issue.

“Although I told her that there may be a judgment in the last incident. I told her, ‘Is that still a necessary activity for me to get into?’ I’m referring to a defense of her, something like that,” he said.

Aquino said it is up to Abaya to choose the next LTO chief.

LTO operations affected

Meanwhile, an LTO official yesterday said the retirement of Torres this month would affect the agency’s operations as it is a “natural consequence” of any change in leadership.

“It’s just a natural consequence of any change that there will be an effect on the operations. But we are working hard to make sure that we continue to provide and even improve our services to the public,” LTO executive director Alfonso Tan said in a text message to The STAR. – With Janvic Mateo