The Land Transportation Office’s (LTO) information technology (IT) service provider wanted LTO chief Teofilo Guadiz III to issue an apology for blaming it over processing delays and long lines in district offices in Metro Manila and in some provinces.
At a news conference in Quezon City, lawyer Nikki de Vega, spokesperson of the Germany-based Dermalog, insisted that her client has a very good reputation “worldwide,” and that Guadiz was besmirching its reputation over his allegations that Dermalog must be blamed for the Malware attack on the agency’s system that caused the slow processing of driver’s license applications and other transactions.
De Vega stressed that Dermalog was looking into possible inside job, saying the “LTO’s computers were used to sabotage the program, and it happened within the premises of LTO.”
“I just hope that Guadiz would rectify matters by apologizing,” she told reporters.
She said Dermalog that backs the Land Transportation Management System’s online portal of the LTO has been proven to be faster compared to LTO’s previous system.
Then LTO chief Edgar Galvante tapped Dermalog to be the agency’s IT provider in 2018.
Dermalog has “100 percent” delivered and put in place LTO’s much-needed software program, and that “our only responsibility now is just to maintain the program,” De Vega said.
She attributed the cause of poor transactions at the LTO to the delays of turnover of legacy database from the old IT provider Stradcom.
Guadiz wanted to “kick out” Dermalog, and even invited Stradcom chief executive officer Anthony Quiambao to make a presentation without even “reaching out to Dermalog or inviting it to also present its case as LTO’s next possible IT provider,” Dermalog said.
De Vega said the software attack on LTO’s IT program happened just a week ago, adding “it was not for fun but it was premeditated.”
Guadiz, at a media briefing, said they would conduct an investigation into the Land Transportation Management System and to coordinate with the Department of Information and Technology (DICT) to identify the cause behind the mess.
Director Francis Rey Almora, chair of the steering committee, said they have already coordinated with the DICT.
Lawyer Zoj Daphne Usita-Angustia, on the other hand, disclosed a plan to seek the help of the National Bureau of Investigation’s Cybercrime Division.