LTFRB Bicol Regional Director, Employees Sacked Over Corruption Charges

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In line with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to curb corruption in government, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade recently ordered Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Martin Delgra III to relieve one LTFRB Regional Director, and three other LTFRB employees, due to corruption charges.

Last Friday, 20 April 2018, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III personally served the order against Bicol Regional Director (RD) Jun Abrazaldo, and installed the new RD, Ret. Col. Vladimir Kahulugan.

“We don’t tolerate corruption under this administration. When your top official such as an RD is allegedly involved, what can you expect from the entire office? Madaling makahawa ‘yan,” said Chairman Delgra.

Last 10 April 2018, DOTr Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Procurement Reinier Paul Yebra issued a 90-day preventive suspension order against Atty. Mary Jil Caurel, Hearing Officer IV of LTFRB Bicol pending investigation for grave misconduct and other administrative offenses.

Caurel is being investigated on charges of grave misconduct for allegedly accepting money in exchange for speedy resolution of application for Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC), willfully and deliberately withholding the release of CPCs, as well as extortion activities in exchange for the release of impounded vehicles. She is also being charged for gross and inexcusable delay of franchise applications for almost one to two years. Caurel was likewise charged with Serious Dishonesty for falsification of entries in her Daily Time Records (DTRs) since 2016.

Two of Caurel’s aides, Christine Yan and Erlisa Sedano, both Administrative Aides, will likewise be asked to explain their alleged participation in the charges. A show cause order will be issued against them soon.

Transportation Secretary Tugade has previously instructed all offices and attached agencies of the DOTr to cleanse their ranks of corrupt officials and employees.

“Anay ‘yang mga ‘yan sa isang organisasyon. Ayaw ko niyan, at ayaw ng Presidente niyan. Kung palagay niyo, guilty kayo, umalis na kayo dyan. Kung magmamatigas kayo, talagang magtutuos tayo,” warned Tugade.

All employees of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Nueva Vizcaya were relieved recently following reports from rice traders of extortion activities. Similarly, Engr. Jose Budiongan, Area Manager for Area Center X of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) was slapped with a 60-day preventive suspension order for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, while Victor Torrefiel, Administrative Aide VI of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) was also placed under a 90-day preventive suspension for grave misconduct and dishonesty.

11 Job Order personnel from the DOTr’s Environmentally Sustainable Initiative Transportation Unit (ESITU) were also terminated for alleged falsification of employment contracts. Engr. Roberto Delfin, a supervising transportation and development officer assigned to the Road Transport Planning Division of the DOTr Central Office was also found guilty of accepting bribes from a transport cooperative.

 

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