Laluces resigns as LTFRB chief

MANILA, Philippines - Saying he wants to give Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas a free hand to choose a person to head the office, Nelson Laluces has resigned as chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Laluces, however, promptly clarified that he does not have any policy differences with Roxas.

The LTFRB is an attached agency of the Department of Transportation and Communications.

“I wanted to allow the Secretary to place a person of his choice to head the agency... I was appointed before him (Roxas). I wanted to give him a free hand (to choose the LTFRB chairman),” Laluces told The STAR.

“There were no policy differences. We’ve been meeting since he assumed,” he said.

He also clarified that he was not resigning due to health reasons. He said he has “fully recovered” from a brain surgery he underwent in February.

He said he submitted his resignation letter to Roxas last week and he would continue to hold office until his replacement has been chosen.

In a related development, LTFRB executive director Dante Atienza has also reportedly submitted his resignation letter to Roxas.