Missing LTO staff gets GMA’s goat

President Arroyo is trying to curb her vile temper, but her officials aren’t cooperating.

The President once again blew her top yesterday, this time in a surprise inspection of the main office of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) on East Avenue in Quezon City.

The President caught LTO workers red-handed cutting their work time and closing their booths as early as 4 p.m., an hour earlier than the normal close of government offices at 5 p.m.

The LTO is the agency in charge of issuing and renewing drivers’ licenses and registering all motor vehicles nationwide.

Acting on tips from her "spies" at the agency about public complaints that LTO personnel were
leaving work early, the Chief Executive arrived unannounced at the LTO offices, taking officials and employees led by LTO chief Assistant Secretary Roberto Lastimoso by surprise.

She lived up to her much-vaunted taray (tart-tongued) image yesterday, with Lastimoso at the business end of a public presidential tongue-lashing.

Like the typical jeepney driver caught for a flagrant traffic violation, Lastimoso could only scratch his head and attempt to explain the LTO system that came under presidential fire.

Lastimoso arrived an hour after the President conducted her surprise inspection of the LTO and his executive assistant, Mariano Gui, had to bear the initial impact of the President’s anger.

Besides Lastimoso, another casualty of the President’s hot temper was the LTO requirement that motorists must purchase early warning devices (EWDs) from LTO-accredited suppliers before vehicle owners are allowed to register their vehicles.

She ordered the suspension of the LTO’s controversial EWD requirement after receiving complaints the EWDs procured from LTO-accredited suppliers cost P485, when EWDs are available along Banawe Avenue in Quezon City for only P150.

Lastimoso once served as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP). He also became a whistle-blower against ousted President Joseph Estrada who, he said, ordered him to go easy on certain jueteng operators.

He is now the latest casualty of Mrs. Arroyo’s sharp tongue and righteous anger after Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) general manager Edgar Manda, who she scolded publicly in April after she inspected the anti-terrorism measures at the country’s premier international airport.

Lastimoso’s name is now part of the growing list of presidential appointees who have been castigated publicly by the President.