LTFRB-8 director suspended for three months

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Martin Delgra III on Wednesday personally served the Ombudsman order suspending for three months LTFRB-8 regional executive director Arthur Saippudin.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales signed the suspension order against Saippudin, which Delgra announced during his meeting with some transport leaders at the Leyte Park Resort Hotel in this city.

"I am here to inform you the three months suspension of Director Saipudin due to simple misconduct, and I would like to read the dispositive portion," Delgra told his audience.

Delgra said Saipudin's suspension arose from a complaint lodged by a transport leader Cesar Licopit of Burauen, Leyte about the "spurious issuance of franchise" by the LTFRB-8 official to REP Tours, despite the LTFRB's moratorium on such issuances.

Delgra was also surprised why Saipudin is the longest serving regional director in Region 8, even if he heard numerous complaints against the director by many transport operators in Eastern Visayas.

Delgra said he did not like the activities at the LTFRB-8 where clerks of lawyers were the ones transacting with Saipudin in the issuance of franchises.

The new LTFRB chairman said he met the transport leaders in Eastern Visayas to announce to them the new LTFRB leadership under him will not tolerate illegal activities and any corruption in the agency.

He also warned them that he does not want to hear any grafts and corruption continuing under his administration. (FREEMAN)