LTFRB exec to answer Ombud probe

Director Ahmed Cuizon wants to clear himself, invites media to visit his house in Lapu

THE Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas was asked to conduct a lifestyle check on Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 Director Ahmed Cuizon.

A taxpayer, Fidel Go, asked Deputy Ombudsman Elmer Clemente to investigate Cuizon and his family for their allegedly unexplained wealth.

“I remain confident that your office will do its mandate to conduct a lifestyle check on Mr. and Mrs. Cuizon, especially their travels abroad and to investigate the considerable assets that they have accumulated in just so short a span of time in government service,” said Go in his letter-request.

Sought for his comment, Cuizon urged the ombudsman to hasten the lifestyle check “so that I can clear myself as soon as possible.”

“Having worked with government for more than 20 years now, I am open to this check because I have nothing to hide,” said Cuizon in a text message to Sun.Star Cebu.

He invites the media to visit his house in Barangay Gunob in Lapulapu City “so they can see for themselves if it will qualify as a mansion.”

Materials

“My wife and I built this house in 1996 and we have lived here since that time until now. It is not located in an exclusive subdivision. It is only made of light materials and it certainly is not worth millions,” said Cuizon.

Cuizon said he religiously declares annually in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) “whatever I own and owe.”

“When we were younger, my wife and I made a pact not to join the OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) trend. We decided to stay in the country and work for the government, despite invitations by friends and relatives for OFW work. Whatever we have now are products of our own sweat and labor. We were brought up to work for what we want, to live within our means and not to steal nor ask for bribes,” said Cuizon.

Management

In his letter-request to the ombudsman, Go said he was “much disturbed” after reading from local newspapers that Cuizon was appointed as the new LTFRB-7 chief.

Go, who claimed to be a businessman, said he could not help but compare the manage- ment style of Cuizon and lawyer Reynaldo Elnar, former LTFRB-7 acting director.

Under Elnar’s stint, Go said the former instituted reforms and minimize graft and corruption.

Under Cuizon’s watch, Go alleged that an operator of a public utility vehicle has to pay an excess of P2,000 per unit and another P500 for every hearing of an application for a franchise.

“And not only that, his lifestyle also slowly began to change. He keeps himself up to date with the latest fashion designs, donning signature clothes with matching shoes, jewelry items, watches and other personal apparels,” said Go.

Go said Cuizon was appointed LTFRB-7 chief because of his political connection, such as with Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

He said Cuizon and his wife are now living in a posh subdivision in Lapu-Lapu City and acquired a new car.

“If these were not declared in his statement of assets and liabilities net worth, then these matters are worth probing, particularly the manner of its acquisition and most importantly the source of funds used to buy them,” said Go.

Trips

Go also said the Cuizon couple had three trips abroad last year.

“Interestingly, such open display of wealth and lavish lifestyle do not augur well with government’s policy extorting public servants to lead modest or simple lives or to follow the Daang Matuwid,” Go added.