Raps filed vs. LTO chief over violation of Duterte's FOI order

An anti-graft watchdog has once again filed a complaint against Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Edgar Galvante and one other official for their supposed failure to respond to requests for documents regarding the agency's alleged anomalous procurement of driver's license cards.

The Anti-Trapo Movement (ATM), represented by its founding chairman Leon Peralta, on Monday charged Galvante and executive director and Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman Romeo Vera Cruz with violation of RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials, RA 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, Executive Order (EO) No. 2 series of 2016, or the People's Constitutional Right to Information.

EARLIER: Anti-Trapo Movement files complaint vs. LTO execs before Ombudsman. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/BlD8dZGFYJ

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) April 3, 2017

In its 10-page complaint-affidavit filed before the Ombudsman, ATM narrated that they requested from Vera Cruz the bidding documents for the project on February 24.

This, in order for the group to complete its research on the supposed anomalous procurement of driver's license cards for the agency, which was written on a column by Jairus Bondoc on February 22.

On March 3, the group sent a follow-up letter to LTO regarding its request, invoking the public's right to information as stated in President Rodrigo Duterte's EO No. 2.

Finally on March 23, the group called the office several times to follow-up on its request. The BAC secretariat supposedly promised that the documents would be released on March 27.

However, no document was released on that date, the group said.

"To date, specifically April 3, 2017, or more than 30 days from our last letter, respondents have neither replied to our request, nor provided us with the requested documents. Such actions of the respondents are in a clear violation of several laws," the complaint read.

ATM had earlier filed a complaint against Galvante, Vera Cruz and five others over the alleged anomalous procurement of driver's license cards for the agency.

The group claimed the respondents, in December 2016, "gave unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference" by entering into a contract with Allcards to supply three million pieces of driver's license cards for the agency worth P187 million.

This, even without the benefit of public bidding.

"Respondents' denial of our request is intended primarily and purposely to cover up a crime, wrongdoing, graft and corruption. Obviously, they want to cover up the rigged bidding for the driver's license card project," the group said in its new complaint.

GMA News Online has reached out to Galvante for his side but has not yet responded as of posting time. —KBK, GMA News