LTO chief charged for 'takeover'

MANILA, Philippines –  A firm handling the computerization of the Land Transportation Office’s transactions filed administrative charges yesterday against LTO chief Virginia Torres and her executive assistant, Virginia Mortel, for allegedly participating in a conspiracy to take over the firm’s facilities in the LTO compound last week.

Stradcom Corp., which bagged a 10-year computerization contract that will end in 2013, said in a complaint filed before the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) that the two women’s alleged “concerted actions caused the paralysis of LTO’s operations for practically the entire day of (Dec. 9), resulting in substantial loss of revenues for the government and Stradcom.”

The information technology firm asked for the immediate dismissal of Torres and Mortel from government service, claiming that their purported actions constitute oppression, grave misconduct, and gross neglect of duty.

The company also added that it will still file civil and criminal cases against Torres and Mortel for their alleged involvement in the takeover. Stradcom based its allegations against Torres and Mortel on footage caught by the building’s surveillance camera that supposedly saw Torres in the company of the group that barged into the building.

Torres said she was only in the area to make sure that Stradcom’s facilities were working. She has also expressed readiness to face the charges, which she said are baseless.

House to probe LTO ‘lapses’

The House of Representatives is set to investigate the reported lapses of officials of the LTO, including their failure to prevent a violent takeover of the agency’s information technology building last week.

The inquiry was prompted by House Resolution 772 filed by Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento, who said Congress should look into the “policies of the LTO as well as its security guidelines.”

The measure was filed after a group of armed security guards stormed the premises of Stradcom in the LTO compound last Dec. 9 allegedly upon the order of three persons claiming to be the new owners and officials of the company.

Sarmiento asked why Torres did not act immediately to retake the IT facility from the seemingly illegal takeover and restore LTO operations.

“The entry of unauthorized armed personnel into the LTO main compound before the start of the business day is clearly a breach of security and can be construed as gross negligence on the part of the LTO leadership,” Sarmiento said.

Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado, chairman of the House committee on transportation, said Torres needs to clarify many issues against her, including the incident.

Mercado vowed to conduct the investigation as soon as possible, even during the break.   – With Paolo Romero