Vizcaya LTO chief axed over ‘illegal fees’

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — The provincial head of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has been relieved amid complaints on the alleged collection of illegal fees from drug and smoke emission testing centers and insurance firms.

LTO regional director Moises Almuete said the relief of Claro Labitoria as LTO district officer here would pave the way for an investigation into the complaints.

"We have to assure the public that there would be no room for a possible whitewash of these complaints," said Almuete.

Almuete said Labitoria will swap positions with Roland Aguada, LTO district officer in Santiago City, Isabela, while an investigation panel is looking into the allegations.

Labitoria has denied the allegations. "These are malicious and baseless allegations, complete lies and pure intrigues," he said.

Drug testing centers here have issued a joint statement clearing Labitoria of the accusations.

Last Sept. 2, an Isabela judge, acting on Almuete’s two-year-old criminal complaints, ordered the arrest of LTO’s Isabela district chief Ernesto Fernandez and cashier Ofelia Butalon for alleged graft and corruption and fund malversation.

Butalon was nabbed two days after the arrest warrant was issued. Fernandez is reportedly still at large. — Charlie Lagasca