MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has fired Land Transportation Office chief Reynaldo Berroya, Malacañang said Wednesday.

Named to replace Berroya was Alberto Suansing, the president of the Philippine Chamber of Arrastre and Stevedoring Operations and secretary general of the Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, however, declined to comment on the reasons why Berroya was replaced.

“That’s part of the usual rigodon. Look, government officials have no Torrens title to any position. At any time, especially if they are recommended by their superiors, they can be (replaced),” said the Palace official.

Ermita said Berroya would revert to his post of Assistant Secretary at the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

Ermita said the order signed on Monday was to be implemented immediately.

But he said it was up to Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza to decide when to implement the order.

Ermita denied that Berroya had a falling out with Mendoza, when asked why the former was replaced as LTO chief. “I don’t think so. Why is he still in DOTC if there’s a souring of relationship,” said Ermita.

He said the LTO was under DOTC, “so there must be a very good reason for it.” He did not elaborate.

Both Mendoza and Berroya belong to the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1969.

There were unconfirmed reports that Berroya would soon be promoted as DOTC undersecretary.

Malacañang has no word about another key ally of the Arroyo administration, retired Philippine National Police Chief Arturo Lomibao.

On the eve of her departure for an Asia-Pacific summit in Sydney, Australia in September, President Arroyo had effected another round of changes in her official family.

She designated Berroya as DOTC assistant secretary and named Lomibao to the LTO post.

But for still unclear reasons, Lomibao was not able to assume the LTO post.

He was instead appointed head of the National Counter-Terrorism Action Group, which is under the supervision of the anti-terrorism council headed by Ermita.

A native of Pangasinan, Lomibao agreed during the last May elections to give way to Speaker Jose de Venecia in the congressional fight for the province’s fourth district.