LTO confirms extortion, bribery incidents involving personnel

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) confirmed Tuesday incidents of extortion and bribery involving its personnel following the allegations of such offenses by transport group Manibela.

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao said some of the involved personnel and officials have been recommended to be relieved from their posts and are now facing complaints.

"Na-identify ko, dalawang regional director na nanghihingi ng monthly sa mga transport group…'Yung regional director nga P7,000 kada buwan, tapos ini-sticker-an niya. May complaint po sa Ombudsman 'yan. Kinausap ako ng transport group. Sabi ko i-diretso niyo na sa Ombudsman," he told Dobol B TV in an interview.

(I identified two regional directors who are asking for monthly payments from transport groups… A regional director is asking for P7,000 per month, then he provides them stickers. There is a complaint with the Ombudsman. The transport group talked to me. I told them to go straight to the Ombudsman.)

LIVE sa DZBB: Asec. Markus Lacanilao, Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief

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"Ultimo nga 'yung job order. Three months na sahod ng job order kinukuha," he added.

(Even job order employees are victims. Their three-month salary is being taken.)

Lacanilao said two LTO personnel members and a security guard in the LTO Central Office were also caught asking money from jeepney drivers last week.

Last Friday, an LTO enforcer was also relieved from his post for allegedly harassing jeepney drivers.

With regard to delayed vehicle registration and franchise renewals, Lacanilao said many applications remain pending due to unfinished consolidation processes and lack of provisional authority from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Lacanilao said the LTO is willing to engage in dialogue with stakeholders to resolve the issues.

Meanwhile, Lacanilao said the impounded vehicles at the Central Office, numbering around 20, are "colorum" or out of line UV Express vehicles without franchises. 

For jeepneys, there are around six units impounded in the facility.

Manibela on Tuesday started its three-day transport strike across the country.

According to Manibela, the transport strike aims to call out the supposed excessive penalties, non-renewal of franchises, and alleged payola culture within the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). — VDV, GMA Integrated News