By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
A Land Transportation Office (LTO) district office head in Metro Manila was ordered by LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, to provide an explanation over the fraudulent registration of a truck that was involved in a fatal road accident at Parañaque City in early December.
This is part of a thorough investigation on the incident that took place on Dec. 6 at the Skyway at-grade Southbound, Barangay Sun Valley, which left one person dead and five others injured.
The vehicle involved was an Isuzu Wing Van with Plate No. JA06375 which experienced a sudden brake malfunction that led to a chain of collisions involving multiple vehicles.
“We want to have a clear explanation from the LTO officer involved, under the concept of command responsibility, as to why the truck was able to register without the necessary road worthiness inspection,” the LTO chief declared, seeking answers pertaining to a notable lapse in regulatory oversight.
In the letter, the LTO officer was given five days upon receipt of the letter to explain why no administrative action should be initiated with reference to Rule 10 of the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (RACCS).
“Failure on your part to submit the required explanation within a specified period shall be construed as a waiver on your part to controvert the issues raised against you and the case shall be decided on the basis of evidence at hand,” the letter read, which was sent to the LTO officer in Metro Manila amid the agency’s ongoing campaign against fixers and their alleged cohorts in the agency.
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