LTO district chief suspended over fixers

MANILA, Philippines — The head of the Land Transportation Office (LTO)’s Novaliches district unit has been suspended following the arrest of five alleged fixers in front of the district office on Tuesday.

LTO chief Jay Art Tugade said yesterday the official was suspended while under investigation for fixing activities at the district office.

While Tugade did not identify the official, the LTO’s website named the Novaliches district office’s head as Joseph Paul Petilla.

“The chief of office will be investigated… If he is found to be in connivance with the fixers, the appropriate criminal charges will be filed against him and the other employees,” Tugade said during a press briefing.

Tugade said he confronted the district head about the prevalence of fixers in his area of jurisdiction. The official reportedly replied that the fixers were outside the office, not on the premises, according to Tugade.

He noted that there could have been gross negligence on the part of the LTO official, which could be grounds for administrative charges.

“We are following (the principle of) command responsibility. The public should rest assured that I will hold the chief of that office accountable for the fixers caught just outside the office,” he said.

The fixers were arrested during a joint operation by the LTO and the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

They were arrested after they received P10,500 from a poseur-buyer for a student permit. They face charges of violating Republic Act 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act.