LTO starts investigation of accredited physician

CEBU, Philippines - The Land Transportation Central Office has started an investigation of a complaint against a physician for alleged usurpation of authority and conduct unbecoming an LTO accredited physician.

Dr. Louie Miranda, chairman of the Committee on Accreditation of Physicians of the Land Transportation Central Office directed Dr. Nelson Seno to answer the complaint lodged against him.

Seno is an accredited physician of the LTO-Mandaue City Licensing Center.

Miranda has informed Seno that his office had received a letter of complaint lodged by Dr. Danilo Dionson of barangay Looc, Mandaue City and told him to answer the complaint.

Dionson accused Seno of issuing notarized documents, particularly affidavits of loss for driver’s licenses, in the names of lawyers Malcom Seno and Nilo Seno in their absence.

Dionson in his complaints said that since 2007, Dr. Seno had caused to fill up reasons in the affidavits of loss, specifically driver’s license applicants in pre-signed affidavits by his younger brother-lawyer, Malcolm who was busy practicing lawyer prior to his death in early 2009.

Dionson said it is common and public knowledge that his brother-lawyer didn’t hold office within the vicinity of Mandaue LTO, but had a law office at their home at barangay Centro in Mandaue City with a signboard displayed, but not at LTO Mandaue.

“And with such busy legal practice, attending court cases daily, he was physically incapable to see and swear affiants, hence Dr. Seno’s role was to take advantage outside his medical limitation and accreditation privilege from unsuspecting applicants,” Dionson said.

According to Dionson, Dr. Seno knew very well from his family circle of lawyers that such documentation is reserved for notary public and should not be treated as a commodity as what he’s doing, and is a grave and serious violation of the Code of Conduct for lawyers.

Dionson presented copord of documents allegedly signed by Dr. Seno to support his complaint.

Dionson further claimed that Seno’s medical clinic is considered as a one-stop hub where affidavits are prepared by him solely to deceive the public and LTO.

He said it is a total mockery and shame to the profession he represents knowing well that medical accreditation by LTO is a privilege and not a right.

Seno, in a letter to Miranda, dated Feb. 23, 2012, which The FREEMAN was also furnished, denied involvement in illegal activities at the LTO.

“I do not deny the fact that affidavits of loss are secured through my clinic. However, these affidavits are blank affidavit forms. These are then filled up upon the request of the affiant and then notarized by my brothers. I would like to stress that I am not practicing law,” said Seno in his letter.

“The fact that my brothers are not holding any office near the LTO branch in Mandaue City is of no consequence because my brothers are holding office just two blocks away and they can easily notarize these documents,” Dr. Seno said. (FREEMAN)