By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Tuesday ordered a region-wide reassignment of key regional chiefs as part of a sweeping campaign to eliminate fixers and strengthen accountability within the agency.
The personnel reshuffle follows intensified anti-fixer operations conducted jointly by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), which resulted in the arrest of three alleged fixers on June 29.
Authorities said the suspects were caught illegally facilitating the issuance of student driver’s licenses and the release of license plates at the LTO West Manila District Office and the LTO Central Office on East Avenue in Quezon City.
LTO Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao said two regional chiefs in Metro Manila are currently under investigation to determine how the illegal activities were able to operate within LTO field offices.
“We need to establish how these individuals managed to carry out their operations and determine whether there were officials or personnel who neglected their duties or deliberately protected them,” Lacanilao said.
He emphasized that the ongoing investigation seeks to identify any lapses in supervision and hold accountable those found responsible for allowing the alleged illegal activities to flourish.
Lacanilao added that the reassignment of regional chiefs forms part of the agency’s broader internal reform program aimed at strengthening oversight, improving transparency, and dismantling fixer networks operating within LTO offices nationwide.
The LTO reiterated its commitment to intensifying anti-corruption efforts and warned that employees found tolerating or participating in illegal transactions would face administrative and criminal charges as the agency continues its campaign to restore public trust in its services.
ia/xf
