GALARIO
CEBU CITY – Serious allegations of corruption have been hurled against the regional director of the Land Transportation Office-Central Visayas (LTO-7).
Two complainants asked the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate LTO-7 chief Glenn Galario for alleged violation of the Republic Act 3019 or the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Reporters reached out to the LTO-7 for Galario’s comment but failed to get immediate response.
In his signed Aug. 15 complaint addressed to Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Dante Vargas, Rosario Y. Paras accused Galario of ordering his chiefs of offices to demand grease money to ensure a fast transaction at LTO-7.
These transactions include processing of vehicle ownership, licensing, and registration.
Attached in the complaint was a letter signed by liaison officers asking Galario to relieve the officer-in-charge (OIC) of the registration section of LTO-Talisay Office.
The petitioners alleged that the OIC was the one who was tasked to deliver P150,000 weekly to Galario. The weekly delivery was allegedly the proceeds of collected grease money.
"This scheme, where Mr. Galario will order his chiefs to do illegal acts in order for them to reach a quota deliverable to Mr. Galario, has persisted for several years already and is still going on,” a portion of Paras’ complaint said.
Paras also asked the Ombudsman to subject Galario to a lifestyle check.
Another complaint was filed on Aug. 12 by one Pablo Dignos, who accused Galario of allegedly receiving payola from operators of colorum vehicles in Bohol province.
Dignos alleged that some unregistered public utility vehicles were able to operate despite not having the needed permit from the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
The colorum vehicles allegedly received protection from Galario which was the reason they were not apprehended or charged with minimal fines by LTO-7 personnel during inspections.
The colorum operators said they just accepted the offer to pay payola for protection as it would cost them more to apply for permits from LTFRB.
"This left them no other recourse but to accept the offer of the so called 'colorum operator protectors' which composes of personnel from different government agencies. This is a syndicate to say the least victimizing the vehicle owners who are just trying to make a living in order to provide for their families," Dignos said
Dignos alleged that those operators who paid protection money were given stickers that should be mounted on the lower portion of the vehicle’s windshield.