Current, ex-transport execs face graft rap over LTO ‘computer fees’
MANILA, Philippines — Former and incumbent officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Land Transportation Office (LTO) are the subject of the graft complaint filed in the Office of the Ombudsman.
A newly formed coalition group dubbed “Coalition 169″ filed the complaint over alleged “unnecessary duplication” of IT systems, which led to additional “computer fee” per transaction at the LTO.
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In a complaint-affidavit filed May 4, the coalition accused several incumbent and former transport officials, along with Stradcom Corporation president Anthony Quiambao, of violating provisions of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
To date, the LTO operates two parallel platforms, namely the Stradcom IT system, a privately-operated platform which imposes the computer fee; and the government-operated Land Transportation Management System (LTMS).
The petitioners said the Stradcom’s continuous operation should be subjected to proper review, while the LTMS should be fully optimized.
The coalition claims that the respondents allegedly extended “undue favoritism” to Stradcom which led to the continuous imposition of a P169 “computer fees” on motorists for their transactions in LTO since 2013, according to its spokesperson Johny Gomez.
Gomez said the coalition estimates that the fees have generated P2 billion to P3 billion annually from Feb. 10, 2013 until present.
“These alleged practices have imposed an unjust and continuing financial burden on millions of Filipinos transacting with LTO,” Gomez said in a statement.
The complainants are seeking the six-month preventive suspension of incumbent officials as well as the full refund of all computer fees.
The respondents are the following: DOTr chief Giovanni Lopez; former DOTr secretaries Vince Dizon and Jaime Bautista; DOTr Undersecretary Ramon Reyes, and former undersecretaries Jesus Ferdinand Ortega, and Mark Steven Pastor; LTO chief Markus V. Lacanilao; former LTO chiefs Vigor Mendoza II and Teofilo E. Guadiz III; and Quiambao.
The DOTr noted the reports regarding the complaint.
“Although we have not yet formally received the complaint, Secretary Lopez is confident that the DOTr and LTO are ready to deal with it in the proper forum,” the DOTr said in a statement.
Mendoza, now the chairperson of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, said he has yet to read the complaint.
However, he noted that the matter with Stradcom is now pending before the Supreme Court and it is “high time” for the court to
Inquirer reached to Stradcom, Dizon, Bautista, Guadiz and Lacanilao for comment.
The Inquirer is also trying to reach the rest of the respondents for comment and will publish their side once available. /cb
