Cebu LTO official faces extortion raps
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque warned a Land Transportation Office (LTO) Cebu that he faces extortion charges after receiving several complaints from motorists.
In a televised briefing on Tuesday, Roque accused LTO Region 7 regional director Victor Caindec of extortion.
Motorcycle and car distributors have complained about the delayed release of their license plates and radio-frequency identification (RFID) stickers because they will not give Caindec the money demanded from them.
“I have affidavits to prove that he is extorting from motorcycle distributors and this is a matter of public document already. If they won’t agree to the amount he is asking, there will be sudden hindrances happening in the issuance,” he said.
Roque reminded that President Rodrigo Duterte is for zero corruption.
“Don’t make the mistake of other officials in terms of corruption. I will bring the matter to the top leadership,” he added.
As early as July, some groups have complained about delays in the processing and release of certificates of registration for new cars and motorcycles in Central Visayas.
Roque, in his press briefing in Cagayan de Oro City on Monday, warned the LTO official to “shape up” in line with the administration’s anti-corruption drive.
Caindec said the allegations against him are attempts to hamper the investigations he made. He said he is ready to prove his innocence.
He also questioned Roque’s ties to the issue, saying the Palace official is the former associate of the lawyer of the car dealer under investigation.
“I got a call from the assistant secretary (Edgar Galvante of LTO) telling me to fix that issue because Secretary Roque is calling about it. I got that to mean that must be good news initially because the issue is now in the perspective of higher government officials,” Caindec said.