7 LTO execs charged over driver’s license deal

MANILA, Philippines -  Land Transportation Office chief Edgar Galvante and six other LTO officials were charged with graft yesterday for procuring P187 million worth of driver’s license cards last year without conducting a public bidding.

Advocacy group Anti-Trapo Movement also filed charges with the Office of the Ombudsman against LTO bids and awards chairperson Romeo Vera Cruz, and BAC members Mercy Jane Paras-Leynes, Rector Antiga, Maribel Salazar, Irene Nueva and Francis Roy Almora with violations of Sections 3 (e) and 3 (g) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The group also charged the respondents with violation of RA 6713 or the Code of Code and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The charges stemmed from the LTO’s procurement of about three million plastic driver’s license cards last year worth P187 million.

The cards, which have a three-year validity, were purchased from AllCard Plastics Philippines Inc. (AllCard) allegedly without holding a public bidding required under the RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.

The group said the respondents, instead resorted to direct contracting, supposedly without valid justification.

The group said their own research team found out that the purchased cards were overpriced at P62.30 each when other providers in the market can supply the cards at P30 each.