Calabarzon LTO chief in hot water

MORE complaints have been filed before the Office of the President against the chief of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) for alleged extortion.

Following separate complaints filed before the Presidential Action Center (PAC) in Malacañang last week, Alfredo Sansoles, chairman of Mamatid-Alabang Festival Transport Service Cooperative, alleged that they were also extorted by the office of LTO Region 4A Regional Director Cupido Gerry Asuncion.

In Sansoles’ complaint, he mentioned that a certain Aguido Terena, believed to be an associate of Asuncion, called him to collect P10,000 monthly as payola for their terminal in Barangay Mamatid, Cabuyao City.

Even Mark Patrick Patteño, who operates a terminal in Cavite, approached the PAC to file his handwritten complaint, accusing Cupido’s camp of demanding P1,000 payola per month.

Another complaint came from Michelle Sapangila, a commuter with a route from Manila to Tacloban City, alleging that LTO Region 4A increased their payola to P30,000 per unit every two months.

Additionally, Arturo Dominguez, president of vans traveling from Cavite to Lawton, submitted a complaint regarding the alleged extortion by Asuncion’s associates, demanding P1,000 payola per van every week.

Earlier, Federico Callejas of Celyrosa Transport, Henry Cayao of Lorna Express, Francis Caballero of Floralde Liner and Teddy Lising, chairman of Cavite Batangas Transport Service Cooperative, lodged complaints before the PAC, revealing that Asuncion’s office allegedly asked for P25,000 per month.

In the complaint addressed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the drivers and operators with routes Naic-PITX, Tagaytay-PITX, Indang-PITX, Alfonso-PITX and Mendez-PITX disclosed that whenever a member of their group is apprehended, they are forced to pay P50,000 to talk to Cupido.

The complainants alleged that LTO enforcers fabricated violations against their buses if they refused to comply with Asuncion’s demands.

In the complaint, the group lamented the difficulties being experienced by bus operators and drivers due to the alleged extortion activities of Asuncion.

The bus drivers and operators who filed the complaint are imploring President Marcos to take action against the officials of LTO Region 4A and replace Asuncion with an honest official who genuinely cares for the welfare of the public.

The Manila Times tried to call the LTO regional director on Monday (March 11) and on Wednesday (March 13) to get his side, but did not answer the phone call.