(Eagle News)—Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has sacked Land Transportation Office personnel in Nueva Vizcaya over corruption allegations.
Tugade issued the order against personnel at the LTO’s Bayombong District Office and Aritao Extension Office, after rice traders and truckers complained to President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday.
According to the complainants, several of the LTO personnel earn as much as P1 million a day by extorting money from thousands of truckers bringing agricultural products from Cagayan Valley outside the region.
The order based on instructions from LTO Chief Edgar Galvante was issued by LTO Regional Director Romeo Sales, who also ordered the cancelation of deputation orders and Temporary Operator’s Permits to Department of Public Works and Highways men who look after the weigh bridge in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya.
“Sa mga rice trader at truckers, wag kayo mag-alala. Tuturuan natin ng leksyon ang mga siraulong ‘yan para masigurong maayos kayong makapagnegosyo. Kung may mga reklamo kayo sa iba pang opisyales o kawani ng (Department of Transportation), ‘wag kayong mangingiming ipaalam sa akin,” Tugade said.
LTO chief Edgar Galvante expressed support for the decision of Duterte and Tugade.
“Habang kami’y pagod na pagod kakatrabaho upang maisalba ang reputasyon ng ahensya, ito namang mga pasaway na ito ay walang tigil sa paggawa ng kalokohan. Nararapat lang na tuldukan na natin ito,” he said.
Tugade said a new set of LTO officials and employees have been assigned in acting capacities to the two offices.