In Lapu-Lapu City: LTO chief charged for gross dishonesty, falsification

CEBU, Philippines – Land Transportation Office (LTO) Lapu-Lapu City Chief Aurea Angcay is facing charges for falsification of official documents and gross dishonesty before the Ombudsman-Visayas.

These are in relation to allegations that she fabricated official documents to prove that vehicles registered by her office met all requirements were.

"Naunay ra's Angcay sa kaugalingon niyang mga dukomento nga iyang gi-submit sa Ombudsman," said Merlo Surilla, who filed the criminal and administrative complaints against Angcay.

The LTO chief could not be reached for her comment yesterday. The FREEMAN had tried to contact her through her mobile phone.

Surilla earlier asked the anti-graft office for assistance saying that Angcay violated provisions of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act when she accepted for registration vehicle that did not have proof of importation tax payment. Angcay had earlier denied the allegation of Surilla.

The LTO chief submitted to the anti-graft body certificates of payments allegedly issued by the Bureau of Customs, to prove that the vehicles in question were not smuggled.

But Surilla, through his counsel Rex Fernandez, scanned the documents Angcay presented to the Ombudsman-Visayas. They claimed these were "fictitious and falsified."

In his formal complaint, Surilla argued that while the questioned vehicle's registration was issued sometime in 2006, the certificate of payments that Angcay presented was issued only this year.

Surilla said that aside from falsification of public documents, Angcay might also be liable for violating Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

According to Surilla, before a vehicle would be accepted for registration, taxes must be paid and the payee will be issued by the Bureau of Customs with a certificate of payment or a certificate of tax report.

"If a vehicle is submitted for new registration without payment of the customs tax then there is tax evasion or smuggling," Surilla said.

Surilla's complaint was supported with some printouts of LTO Entry Traceability Report showing that some vehicles registered by the LTO-Lapulapu City branch lack the required documents.

The documents include the vehicles' motor and chassis numbers and the names of the vehicle owners.

Earlier, Angcay had said that if it is true that there are some vehicles registered at her office even without complete documents, some of her personnel may be the ones involved in this because she herself is strict about the registration process. (FREEMAN)