Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Vigor Mendoza II on Thursday vowed to protect the integrity of the agency from the bad image that haunted it over the years, such as the “palakasan system” aggravated by the presence of fixers.
He cited the mandate of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on the need to protect the integrity of the LTO from individuals tainting its image by boasting that they could bend the rules of all transactions through their connections.
Mendoza was reacting to the arrest of a 37-year-old Muntinlupa City resident after posing as a liaison officer from the Office of the President to collect over P500,000 from an applicant for motor vehicle registration.
A renewed crackdown was also launched against fixers, resulting in the arrest of nine people during an operation in Novaliches, Quezon City.
Those arrested were identified as Alberth Santos, 31; Archie Sesbreño, 48; Vicente Pinon III, 42; Melvin Reoloso, 39; Markley Naloste, 44; Jeffrey Balsote, 39; Richard Bando, 41; Dexter Tequin, 26, and Ovito Medallo, 57.
“These people have been besmirching our image and integrity in public,” Mendoza stressed.
The agency’s other stakeholders would also be involved in the changes within the LTO.
“We have to change it… we really have to make changes within, along with our partners, these stakeholders. Those to also be included are no. 1, our suppliers; then no. 2, those online pick-ups. If we are to be… if we are to project a new image, it (change) has to extend not only to ourselves but also to the people dealing with us,” Mendoza said.
