LTO chief Torres ‘retires’

MANILA, Philippines - After saying she would stay in office unless President Aquino wanted her out, Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Virginia Torres yesterday announced her “retirement” from government service.

Torres made the announcement in an interview over radio dzMM. She denied that the President had sacked her.

According to Torres, her “retirement” would take effect at the end of the month.

Torres did not answer calls when The STAR tried to reach her.

In the radio interview, Torres said she had talked to Aquino last Sept. 30 at Malacañang, during which she told the President of her intention to retire from government.

She said she had also informed Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya of her decision.

The LTO is one of the agencies under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

Malacañang confirmed yesterday that Torres is retiring from service but could not say whether the move was related to the issues hounding her.

Citing a text message by Abaya, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Torres had decided to retire since she is already eligible to do so. Torres is 60 years old and has been serving the government for 33 years.

“I’ve spoken to Asec. Virgie Torres. She met up with the President and I also had a chance to meet with her after. She has volunteered to file for retirement since she’s already eligible to retire,” Lacierda quoted Abaya as saying.

The DOTC will submit a list of possible candidates to President Aquino as replacement for Torres.

When asked whether Torres’ departure from government service is a big loss to the administration, Lacierda said, “Certainly, she has been part of our administration since day one. She has been doing her job but she has opted to retire, considering that her retirement is nearing soon.”

Marred by controversies

From being an LTO district officer in Tarlac, the hometown of the President, the 60-year-old Torres was tapped to head the agency in 2010.

The most recent controversy that the LTO chief faced was a video circulating that showed her playing at a casino.

Memorandum Circular No. 8 issued in 2001 bars government officials from entering and playing in casinos.

But Torres denied wrongdoing in the incident.

She said the video – taken in a place showing rows of slot machines, with ringing music in the background – was taken “with malice.”

Torres said she would be ready to answer the allegations against her in the investigation being conducted by the DOTC.

She denied rumors she was saying goodbye to LTO employees after she thanked them for their support during a flag-raising ceremony in July.

Malacañang, for its part, earlier said it would not sack Torres without due process.

Meanwhile, in 2010, Torres figured in a much-publicized dispute with Stradcom Corp., then the IT provider of the LTO.

This stemmed from a video purportedly showing Torres in the company of the group of the estranged business partner of Stradcom president Cezar Quiambao, then taking over the company offices inside the LTO compound in Quezon City.

The failed takeover disrupted operations for several hours but Torres denied the allegations.

A Department of Justice panel then investigating the incident recommended that she be placed on preventive suspension.

After a graft case was filed against her before the Office of the Ombudsman, Torres took a leave of absence in April 2011. She came back eventually after a few months.

Stradcom filed a graft case against her before the Office of the Ombudsman for her alleged refusal to pay company money worth billions of pesos for its services. Torres was then citing an intra-corporate dispute between two factions claiming ownership of the IT firm.

Also recently, Torres figured in a row with Sen. Vicente Sotto III, when the latter said a provision of the newly signed Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Law – which allows for the random drug testing on drivers suspected to be under the influence of drugs – effectively repealed the mandatory drug testing for application and renewal of driver’s licenses.

Torres initially said she was waiting for the recommendation of the panel crafting the implementing rules and regulations of the new law. But she eventually gave way and issued an order repealing the mandatory drug tests.

In all the challenges to her leadership, Torres had been consistent in saying she would remain in her post for as long as President Aquino wanted her there.

- With Alexis Romero, Lawrence Agcaoili