Palace names Mendoza LTFRB chair, Lacanilao LTO chief

Vigor Mendoza II

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Friday announced changes in top positions at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

In a Viber message to reporters, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said LTO chief Atty. Vigor Mendoza II will become the new LTFRB chair, replacing Teofilo Guadiz III.

Markus Lacanilao will assume the role of LTO chair, while Guadiz has been assigned as chair of the Office of Transport Cooperatives. Lacanilao was the Special Envoy on Transnational Crime.

Malacañang has not issued an official statement regarding the changes, but transport groups, collectively known as the “Magnificent 7,” had recently called for Guadiz’s resignation over his alleged failure to implement the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP), formerly the PUV Modernization Program.

The group includes Pasang Masda, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas, Stop-and-Go, Fetodap, Busina, and Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations. However, five members have since withdrawn their calls for Guadiz’s resignation.

Transport group Manibela, on the other hand, expressed support for Guadiz after the LTFRB reaffirmed its commitment to fully implement the PTMP and emphasized that transport sector reforms remain a top priority.

Guadiz was also previously linked to a “lagayan (bribery) scheme” exposed by his former executive assistant, Jeffrey Tumbado, who alleged that Guadiz facilitated under-the-table transactions, including route modifications and prioritization of franchise papers and special permits—a claim Guadiz denied.

Meanwhile, Lacanilao was cited for contempt last April for allegedly lying during a Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing investigating former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest. He voluntarily appeared before the Senate that same month to comply with the order.

The inquirer sought comments from Guadiz and Mendoza on their new positions, but had not received a response at the time of posting./mcm