More drivers speak out vs alleged corruption in regional LTO
More bus drivers and operators lodged complaints over the alleged collection of large sums of money by a Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Southern Luzon to avoid apprehension.
Through separate letters dated March 2 and Feb. 12, two transport cooperative leaders sent their complaints to the Presidential Action Center (PAC) narrating their accounts on alleged extortion practices done by individuals, who introduced themselves as officers of LTO Lipa City.
Alfredo Junio Sansoles, chairman of the Mamatid-Alabang Festival Transport Service Cooperative revealed that he was asked to pay P10,000 "payola" every month to gain immunity on apprehensions, claiming that the "payola" was being collected by a "bagman of the LTO Lipa."
Another complainant, Arturo Dominguez, president of van transport plying Cavite to Lawton, claimed that when his members were apprehended by LTO Lipa, they were asked to pay P1,000 per van under the 60-member group every week.
Both drivers claim in their letters that the extortion attempts were done "upon the instructions" of high-ranking officials of the LTO office.
Last week, a group of bus drivers and operators appealed to President Marcos to look into these alleged corrupt practices at the LTO regional office.
They urged the President to reshuffle the officials in the said LTO office due to the corruption allegations.