DOTr defends sacking of LTFRB regional director

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Monday defended its decision to sack Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Regional Director Jun Abrazaldo for supposed corruption.

“Patunay lang ito na walang kaming pinalalampas sa Departamento. Mapa-opisyal o ordinaryong empleyado basta't hindi tama ang ginagawa, hindi ako magdadalawang isip na sibakin kayo. Utos iyan mismo ni Pangulong Duterte,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said in an emailed statement on Monday.

Abrazaldo claimed his dismissal was harassment as it did not go through due process.

“According to LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III, Abrazaldo’s case was never based on unadulterated imagination as it is rooted in three reports presented by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) ...” the DOTr said.

The DOTr said it also received a complaint that Abrazaldo threatened to make a truck owner pay P3 million for a settlement claim.

“This, despite not having the legal authority to hear the case as the incident took place in Region 4A,” it said.

The DOTr clarified the removal of Abrazaldo—a presidential appointee—was also upon orders of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Walang personalan, trabaho lang. Naghuhumiyaw na ang mga reklamo hindi pa ba natin aaksyunan? Kawawa naman ang taumbayan,” Delgra noted.

“We will not give in. Kahit ano pang ibato niya sa atin, hindi ako natatakot dahil ang sandigan natin ay iyong totoo lang. Nagtatrabaho tayo ng tama. Ang sabi ng Pangulong Duterte at ang mahigpit na bilin ni Secretary Tugade, wakasan ang korapsyon. Iyan po ang ginagawa natin,” he said. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/VDS, GMA News