LTO-7 gets clearance to sue erring dealers

CEBU, Philippines —  Land Transportation Office assistant secretary Edgar Galvante has given LTO-7 director Victor Caindec the greenlight to initiate the filing of appropriate charges against a motorcycle dealer for alleged tax evasion and falsification of documents.

“With regard to your initial finding and recommendation to file criminal case against the said dealer for tax evasion and submission of spurious/falsified documents, as regional director you are authorized to refer, coordinate and file appropriate case with concerned government offices as deemed fit,” read Galvante’s letter to Caindec.

 Galvante said that an administrative adjudication has been set against the dealer for evaluation. Caindec earlier issued a show-cause order against five motorcycle dealers in Cebu and Central Visayas for alleged violations of the LTO policies and existing laws.

Caindec accused these dealers of allegedly violating the rules on accreditation and illegal practices prejudicial to the interest of the government. His spat with the motorcycle dealers resulted in several allegations of corruption against Caindec.

In fact, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque tagged Caindec to the alleged anomalies in the registration of motorcycles in Central Visayas.

The LTO-7 director was accused of extorting money from the dealers, an allegation Caindec vehemently denied. Instead, Caindec claimed to have been bribed by the dealers.

Caindec also accused Roque of protecting the motorcycle dealers being their former lawyer. He said the Palace official tried to stop the investigation against the big motorcycle dealers. The allegations were also denied by Roque.

Meanwhile, Caindec has addressed complaints from netizens on the schedule of examination for driver’s license applicants in its extension office in Talisay City. Caindec made a surprise visit at the LTO Talisay extension office yesterday following complaints on Facebook.

A netizen complained of having a hard time getting a schedule for the exam even after four days of trying. The LTO extension office in Talisay City is manned by two officers---one in charge for licensing and the other for registration.

LTO-Talisay licensing chief Joseph Paul Martin Noel explained to Caindec that because of the health protocols that they need to observe, the number of examinees has been reduced to 25 per day.

Noel said that the number of applicants is too many for them to accommodate. This prompted Caindec to implement a booking system wherein applicants have to get a schedule for examination from the Public Assistance and Complaints Desk.

“A day before their scheduled exam, our personnel will call them to make sure that they will get the slot booked for them," Noel said. — FPL (FREEMAN)