LTO chief not unceremoniously axed — Palace

Press Secretary Milton Alingod refuted yesterday reports that Roberto Lastimoso was relieved as chief of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) without being officially informed beforehand.

Alingod said Undersecretary Enrique Perez of the Presidential Search Committee called Lastimoso on the phone on Thursday to inform him that DOTC Undersecretary Agustin Bengzon had been designated LTO officer-in-charge by President Arroyo.

"Perez had been trying to contact Lastimoso since July 1, 2003 but the latter was either out of town or in meetings," Alingod said.

He also pointed out that the Office of the Executive Secretary transmitted the Bengzon and Lastimoso papers, by courier and fax, before the close of office hours on July 3, 2003. These were officially received by the LTO and DOTC early evening of the same date, he said.

Alingod emphasized that the process of replacement was routine and proper, and it was never intended to treat Lastimoso unceremoniously or put him in a bad light.

"In fact, President Arroyo said Lastimoso was trying to do his best but he was simply overwhelmed by the morass of problems in the LTO," he added.