Graft claims hound LTFRB exec as he steps down

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The top transport official of northern Mindanao stepped down upon retirement on Wednesday, claiming a clean record in office despite the chorus of complaints of corruption from drivers and operators.

With Mandangan Darimbang, regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), out of the agency, a transport group said it was hoping that reforms would be introduced and reports of irregularities would end. Darimbang was considered among the longest-serving LTFRB directors in the country, having assumed the position in the 1980s.

The LTFRB, along with the Land Transportation Office, are two of the government offices that President Duterte wanted cleansed on the heels of reports of rampant corruption and anomalous transactions involving their officials and employees.

“President Duterte promised to introduce change. We hope that change will trickle down to the local level, so corruption could be eliminated,” said Ringo Lago, regional secretary of the Solidarity of Transport Alliance in Region X-Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Starex-Piston).

While saying that he did not personally experience any anomalous deal with the LTFRB regional office, Lago claimed drivers and operators from Starex-Piston’s member-organizations had narrated stories of corruption over the years.