LTFRB chief faces abuse, graft case

LEGAZPI CITY — The former Bicol regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has filed a complaint against his ex-boss, LTFRB Chair Martin Delgra, accusing Delgra of abuse of power and of allegedly protecting erring bus firms.

In a complaint-affidavit submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman on April 27, Jun Abrazaldo, who was removed by Delgra as Bicol regional director of the LTFRB, accused Delgra of abuse of authority in sacking him.

Delgra fired Abrazaldo based on a report by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (Nica).

Favoring companies

In his complaint, Abrazaldo accused Delgra of intervening for Decker Cargo Logistics Corp. (DCLC) and Super Five Bus Transport Inc. (Super Five).

Delgra, according to Abrazaldo, stepped in when the LTFRB regional office was investigating DCLC after one of its trucks figured in an accident that killed three people and damaged a truck belonging to another company.

Abrazaldo also alleged that Delgra interfered with the regional LTFRB office’s apprehension of four units of Super Five for being unregistered.

Abrazaldo said Delgra sent him text messages and was summoned over the Super Five case.

Tense meeting

At his meeting with Delgra, Abrazaldo recalled Delgra telling him: “‘Di ko alam kung talagang gago ka o hindi ka makaintindi (I don’t know if you’re just stupid or can’t really get it).”

Abrazaldo said his removal by Delgra was also an overkill, as the LTFRB chief brought in soldiers and members of the police’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team on the day he was removed.

According to the ex-LTFRB regional chief, he was removed without due process, based only on the Nica report dated Dec. 19, 2017.

Delgra, Abrazaldo added, also ignored the authority of regional LTFRB directors to appoint personnel.

When he confronted Delgra at the LTFRB office here, Abrazaldo said if the charge against him was corruption then it should be investigated.

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