LTO executive director named OIC

MANILA, Philippines - Lawyer Alfonso Tan Jr. will head the Land Transportation Office (LTO) as officer-in-charge (OIC) starting today.

Tan is currently executive director of the LTO.

He will be temporarily holding the LTO leadership to replace Assistant Secretary Virginia Torres, who has retired from government service.

Tan graduated from the Ateneo Law School and had his own law practice before his appointment as LTO executive director in September 2011.

Lawyer Michael Arthur Sagcal, spokesman for the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), yesterday confirmed the designation of Tan as LTO’s OIC.

“As LTO’s next highest ranking official, Executive Director Tan will be its officer-in-charge beginning Nov. 1 until a new assistant secretary is appointed by the President,” Sagcal told The STAR.

Torres reportedly told President Aquino last Sept. 30 of her intention to retire from government.

The most recent controversy hounding Torres was a video that purportedly showing her playing the slot machine at a casino.

Torres, in a past interview, said she would be ready to answer the allegations against her in the investigation being conducted by the DOTC.

She denied wrongdoing, saying she was not in a casino and that the video was taken “with malice.”

Before her retirement, Torres had insisted she would not resign as long as Aquino wanted her to stay as LTO chief.

In 2010, Torres figured in a much-publicized rift with Stradcom Corp., then the IT provider of the LTO.

At the height of the controversy, the camp of Stradcom president Cezar Quiambao presented a video purportedly showing Torres in the company of his estranged business partner, then taking over the company offices inside the LTO compound in Quezon City.

Torres denied participation in the failed takeover.