DOTr probes LTO chief for corruption

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation is investigating corruption allegations against Land Transportation Office chief Vigor Mendoza, DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said yesterday.

“The allegations – betrayal of public trust, grave abuse of authority, loss of trust and confidence, acts prejudicial to the public, reputational risk against the Philippine government and corruption, among others – are all serious accusations that demand in-depth investigation and equally serious affirmative action,” Bautista said.

Bautista asked Mendoza to submit his explanation and comments on the allegations by the Federated Land Transport Organizations of the Philippines and the Coalition for Good Governance, as well as other groups, about the “continued charging” of computer fees by LTO offices that are still under the old LTO IT system while those using the new Land Transportation Management System have removed the fee.

Mendoza said the LTO has migrated 97 percent of its transactions to the new system and is addressing system glitches in the agency’s digital transactions through migrating to the new IT provider.

In November last year, the two groups filed separate graft cases on the same issue against Mendoza before the Office of the Ombudsman.

The LTO chief said the cases were good opportunities to prove the allegations were “totally baseless and absurd.”