DOTr orders probe into alleged payola in LTO

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has directed the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to investigate alleged cases of payola or bribery within the agency, Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said Sunday.

Lopez issued the directive in response to the planned nationwide transport strike announced by the group MANIBELA.

“Hindi pa kami nakapag-usap ni Mar Valbuena. Pero nakapag-usap na sila ni Asec. Lacanilao. Ang issue ay registration na matagal daw at may alegasyon pa ng payola,” Lopez told Super Radyo dzBB.

(I haven’t spoken with MANIBELA chairperson Mar Valbuena yet, but he has already spoken with LTO chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao. Their issue is reportedly the long processing time for registration, along with allegations of payola.)

Lopez said he has instructed Lacanilao to address the matter and submit recommendations.

“Tuesday, aasahan ko ang kanyang mga rekomendasyon. Sabi ko, iprayoridad 'yung mga kawani na may alegasyon na ganito. Kung may ebidensiya, tanggalin agad,” he added.

(I expect his recommendations on Tuesday. I told him to prioritize personnel facing such allegations and dismiss them if there is evidence.)

MANIBELA earlier announced it will stage a nationwide transport strike from December 9 to 11 to protest what it called excessive penalties and slow government processing of documents.

The Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP), launched in 2017, seeks to replace traditional jeepneys with at least Euro 4–compliant units to reduce pollution and phase out vehicles deemed unroadworthy.

“There's no problem registering traditional PUJs. Just make sure na kailangang roadworthy bago ma-register,” Lopez said.

(There’s no problem registering traditional PUJs, as long as they are roadworthy before registration.)

Lopez added that DOTr is open to dialogue with MANIBELA, noting that the planned strike will affect many commuters.

For now, government agencies are mapping routes likely to be affected by the strike to deploy free rides.—Mariel Celine Serquiña/MCG, GMA Integrated News