LTO chief back at work today

MANILA, Philippines - Controversial Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Virginia Torres might be headed for a collision course with the Department of Justice (DOJ) when she returns to work today after her 60-day forced leave of absence lapsed last Sunday.

Torres, an assistant DOTC secretary, told The STAR yesterday that it is up to DOJ officials to decide if they would file administrative charges against her.

“They should know what to do next. They have the fact-finding committee,” Torres said.

She said she would invite the public and the media to review the probe conducted by the DOJ fact-finding committee on her role in the failed illegal takeover of the central operations center of the LTO’s computerization contractor, Stradcom Corp. last December, and see if the DOJ had given her fair treatment.

Torres earlier blamed Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for endorsing a fact-finding committee report on the investigation into the illegal takeover of the central operations center of the LTO’s information technology provider Stradcom Corp. inside the LTO central office compound along East Avenue in Quezon City last December.

The investigation panel also recommended the filing of administrative charges against her for helping the Stradcom splinter group of businessmen Bonifacio Sumbilla and Aderito Yujuico in their bid to take over the firm’s operations center.

Torres said that the DOJ and De Lima have erred in finding her administratively liable for her alleged role in the illegal failed takeover.

“Pikon ako sa kanila (I’ve lost my patience with them). They’re the DOJ... They should know better,” she said.

Torres also said that she is ready to resign if critics could prove their allegations that she is guilty of any wrongdoing.

She denied allegations that she is desperate to cling to her post.

“If they could prove that I had done anything wrong, I would be the one to tell the President that I’m stepping down from my post,” Torres said in an interview on ABS-CBN’s “Umagang Kay Ganda.”

Torres said she was saddened that President Aquino is being criticized for not deciding on her case.

“Our President is honest. If you are in the right, he will be behind you,” Torres said.

She said that all she wants is to be given due process and for the courts to decide whether she erred in the Stradcom dispute.

Torres also had kind words for former transportation secretary Jose de Jesus, whose resignation earlier this month was attributed to Malacañang’s refusal to discipline the LTO chief, allegedly a close presidential friend and shooting range buddy.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) supervises the LTO.

“If he is in the office (in DOTC), I will go there. You know, si Secretary, love ko yan eh,” Torres said.

Asked what she would say to De Jesus, Torres said she would thank the outgoing DOTC chief for what she believed was his sincere support for the LTO.

Torres said that she would continue the reforms that she started at the LTO.

DOTC officials earlier admitted that no charges have yet been filed against Torres as was recommended by the DOJ.

DOTC officials said that Malacañang has failed to provide legal assistance for the conduct of a proper joint investigation by the DOTC and Malacañang which would then decide the administrative charges that would be filed against Torres, as well as her head executive assistant Menelia Mortel.

Upon filing of the administrative charges, the Committee said Torres should be asked to take an indefinite leave of absence or be issued a preventive suspension if she refuses to go on leave.

“The preventive suspension is intended to prevent her from using her position or office to influence prospective witnesses or tamper with the records which may be vital in the prosecution of the case against her,” the committee explained.