Ex-LTO7 chief arrested for graft, posts bail

CEBU, Philippines - Former Land Transportation Office-7 director Alex Leyson was arrested for graft charges Monday but was released right after he posted bail of P180,000.

Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group served the warrant at Leyson’s residence in Barangay Talamban. The warrant was issued by Judge Sylvia Aguirre-Paderanga of the Regional Trial Court.

Leyson, currently a barangay councilman in Talamban, is among five LTO-7 officials implicated in the alleged misuse of more than P23 million worth of public funds.

 The four others also dismissed from service include human resource management officer Joel Maloloy-on, supervising transportation regulation officer Gonzalo Baybay, finance and management division officer-in-charge Corazon Bascon and assistant cashier Marissa Abear Veriña.

 Early this year, Leyson, Baybay, Bascon and Veriña were dismissed by the Visayas Ombudsman for being involved in the alleged illegal release of P20.9 million public funds in 2005.

 It can be remembered that Maloloy-on was arrested last month inside his office along N. Bacalso Avenue, Cebu City. He was released from detention after he immediately posted bail for P30, 000.

 This was the third time Maloloy-on was issued a warrant of arrest by the court for the same offense. He was suspended previously for two months for simple neglect of duty.

 Both Leyson and Maloloy-on denied the charges. — (FREEMAN)