Torres won't give up LTO post

MANILA, Philippines -  Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Virginia Torres will not resign despite allegations that she had facilitated the registration of a stolen sports utility vehicle.

Torres said yesterday she is not bothered by the statement of Prosecutor General Claro Arellano that the resolution on the case filed against her by the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) will come out this week.

“But if there’s an order from the President, I will (leave my post),” she said.

Torres said she had received a text message from President Aquino after the issue landed on the front page of a broadsheet on Monday.

“He (Aquino) told me to submit a report about it and I have already complied with it,” she said.

Torres said she approved the registration of transfer of ownership from Cristina Macasaet to Arnel and Cheryl Lou Sicat of a Mistubishi Pajero (RJP-111) on Feb. 2, 2008 when she was LTO district officer in Tarlac.

The certificate of registration (CR) showed that the Pajero was previously registered under the name of Macasaet on June 7, 1999 at Tarlac District Office, she added.

Torres said that particular registration was approved by then LTO district head Luciano Llanillo.

Together with this CR were the other required documents, which were found to be complete and authentic, she added.

Torres said she approved the registration of transfer of ownership from the Sicats to one Dimsy Yap on March 9, 2009 and the required documents submitted were found to be complete and authentic.