MANILA — A government employee assigned at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Cebu City was found to have committed an ethical offense.
Cebu City Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 4 Presiding Judge Jenelyn Forrosuelo found Marilou Alferez, Traffic Aide III of the LTO Cebu City, guilty of violating the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees”.
Alferez, assisted by counsel, entered a plea of “guilty” during a hearing on Feb. 20, 2018. The MTCC then ordered her to pay a PHP5,000 fine as penalty.
Alferez was charged based on an incident involving Socrates Funesto, a jeepney driver who was flagged down for a traffic violation on Aug. 12, 2011, resulting in the confiscation of Funesto’s driver’s license.
When Funesto proceeded to the LTO, he approached and requested Alferez to reconsider his violation.
In reply, Alferez told Funesto to pay PHP1,500 for his traffic citation ticket. After payment, she assured him that the “violation will be downgraded so the fine will also be reduced.”
Funesto then gave Alferez PHP400 and left her office.
Upon return, Alferez gave Funesto’s license.
No official receipt was given for the P400 payment. (PNA)
