LTO-NCR official faces probe over illegally registered truck

Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Vigor Mendoza II —Arnel Tacson/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II has demanded an explanation from the head of an LTO district office in the National Capital Region (NCR) regarding the fraudulent registration of a truck that was involved in a road accident in Parañaque City earlier this month.

In a statement on Wednesday, Mendoza said the explanation he was seeking from the LTO-NCR district office head, whom he did not identify, was part of the “thorough” investigation he had ordered into the Dec. 6 accident on the Skyway At-Grade Southbound in Barangay Sun Valley that killed one person and left five others injured.

The vehicle involved was an Isuzu wing van with plate number JA06375, whose driver claimed the brakes malfunctioned. The truck hit another vehicle, leading to a series of collisions involving several other vehicles.

“We want to have a clear explanation from the LTO officer involved, under the concept of command responsibility, as to why the truck was able to register without the necessary roadworthiness inspection,” Mendoza said in his letter to the district office head.

He gave the LTO official five days upon receipt of the letter to explain why no administrative action should be taken for violating the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service.

“Failure on your part to submit the required explanation within a specified period shall be construed as a waiver on your part to controvert the issues raised against you, and the case shall be decided on the basis of [the] evidence at hand,” Mendoza’s letter read.

Immediately after the Dec. 6 accident, the LTO suspended the license of the driver for 90 days pending an investigation and also ordered him and the truck’s registered owner to explain why they should not be held liable for the incident.