LTFRB’s Delgra suspends Bicol director, 16 personnel for corruption allegations

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTRFB) has suspended its regional director and 16 personnel in Bicol for corruption allegations, the board said on Wednesday.

LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra III identified the official as Region V director Vladimir Kahulugan. His two personnel, Arnel Sabello and Andres Tabunda, were also suspended, according to a separate report by Allan Gatus.

FLASH REPORT: Isang regional director ng LTFRB, sinuspinde. | via @allangatus pic.twitter.com/ZaI2GXSi7B

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) October 30, 2019

Kahulugan is facing complaints of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, while Facunda and Sebello supposedly falsified public documents, the report noted.

“Tabunda and Sabello ... were formally charged with falsification of documents and for deliberately tampering and falsifying the minutes of deliberation in relation to the appointments of some LTFRB Region V personnel,” the board said in a separate statement.

The complaints stemmed from allegations that the three were extorting money from transport operators who have pending cases before the LTFRB, and from public transport drivers in the Bicol region.

Fourteen other personnel of the LTFRB-Region V have also been suspended due to corruption, the report noted.

Gerard del Rio, an officer of Region V, was dismissed on July 31 for grave misconduct and for allegedly accepting cash with the promise of the speedy issuance of Certificate of Public Convenience to PUV operators based in Catanduanes and in Masbate, the board said.

Along with Del Rio, the LTFRB also dismissed 13 other job order employees in relation to the cases filed.

“We are undertaking all necessary measures to reassure the public of LTFRB’s commitment to good governance … Wala po tayong palalampasin,” said Delgra.

“The fight against graft and corruption is an ongoing battle. We will not hesitate to rid anyone caught disobeying the law,” he added.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade emphasized that corruption will not be tolerated in the department.

The LTFRB is an attached agency of the department.

“Walang puwang sa kagawaran natin at sa administrasyon ni Pangulong Duterte ang mga corrupt. Hindi alam ng mga gaya ninyo ang tunay na kahulugan ng serbisyo publiko,” Tugade said. —Joviland Rita/VDS, GMA News