CHIEF
[PHOTO - BELEAGUERED LTO CHIEF VIRGINIA
TORRES]
MANILA, JUNE 21, 2011 (TRIBUNE) The Palace said President Aquino's
shooting buddy Virginia Torres will definitely return as Land Transportation
Office (LTO) chief after taking a two-month leave despite the mounting calls for
Aquino to stop protecting his so-called "KKKs" who are Aquino's Kaibigan
(crony), Kaklase (classmate) and Kabarilan (target range shooting buddy) and
despite the recommendation of the Department of Justice (DoJ) to dismiss Torres
from service after finding probable cause on the charges leveled against her.
Deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte said the DoJ recommendation is
still under review and so far it is not considered a hindrance to Torres coming
back on 21st. "I am aware (LTO information technology system provider) Stradcom
has filed against Torres. But as far the DoJ fact finding results are concerned,
they are still being studied," Valte said.
With regard to other KKKs, Valte said the Commission on Appointments (CA)
would be the proper venue for raising issues against Aquino's appointees. "We
should trust legislators who sit in the CA to properly raise concerns. As we've
seen in the members of the Cabinet which are discussed in the CA, we try to
answer them to their satisfaction," she said.
A ranking member of the House minority bloc assailed Aquino for protecting
Torres and accused him of gross inefficiency for failing to act on various
matters of urgent concern despite being besieged by incessant demands from all
quarters that he do so.
Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros "Mitos" Magsaysay said contrary to Palace spin
doctors Aquino is so hardworking and he peruses the "mile-high stack" of
documents on his table personally, the President has proven time and again he is
so inefficient by failing to act on matters of immediate
concern especially on issues which would affect his KKK: Kaibigan, Kaklase
and Kaibigan.
"For one, he has failed to act on the memorandum of DoTC (Department of
Transportation and Communication) Secretary (Jose) Ping de Jesus dated April 6,
2011 that he (Aquino) exercise his disciplinary power over LTO (Land
Transportation Office) Chief Virgina Torres who was charged with Gross Neglect
of Duty and Gross Insubordination," said Magsaysay.
"But in the case of Special Prosecutor Wendell Barrera-Sulit, he was quick to
jump on the gun and had her suspended," the feisty solon noted.
In the April 6 de Jesus memorandum for Aquino, which the Tribune obtained a
copy, he (De Jesus) stated that despite repeated demand letters from his office
directing Torres to pay all of the government's standing to obligations to the
LTO's information technology (IT) service provider, Stradcom, Torres insistently
refused.
In another instance, de Jesus averred in his memorandum that in August last
year, his office directed Torres "to conduct an in-depth and comprehensive
review of the existing Private Emission Testing Center (PETC) system currently
being implemented and come up and develop a new PETC System which is more
efficient and secure at lower cost to the public."
However, up to the time de Jesus tendered his resignation as DoTC secretary,
Torres has yet to comply with his directive.
The resigned DoTC secretary also recalled an instance wherein Torres, who is
widely acknowledged as Aquino's favorite kabarilan, displayed her arrogance when
after being asked to conduct a thorough study on the LTO's Motor Vehicle
Registration Card (MVRC) Project and submit a comprehensive report and
recommendation, she simply referred back the matter to his office, saying the
Office of the Secretary is "in the best position to decide the case."
De Jesus concluded his memorandum requesting the President to discipline
Torres accordingly.
However, the Palace has denied the existence of such document which was duly
signed by de Jesus and marked as OSEC (Office of the Secretary) — Outgoing
(Communication) No. 11-00591.
While the Palace seems to turn a blind eye on Torres, last week, it announced
the suspension of Barrera – Sulit in connection with the plea bargain agreement
she initiated with former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comptroller
(ret.) Major general Carlos Garcia.
However, Magsaysay noted that the Sandiganbayan has already upheld the Garcia
plea bargain agreement, which essentially, cleared Barrera – Sulit of any
wrongdoing.
"Are they better than the court of law? Are they superior over all branches
of government including the legislative?" Magsaysay exclaimed as she took note
of the administration's effort to block the minority bloc in the House of
Representatives to have Aquino's KKK investigated.
"Why is the Aquino administration taking great pains in trying to block the
investigation of the KKK?? Magsaysay said as she stressed that anyone can file
any resolution of investigation in Congress, "the same way as anyone can file a
case in the Ombudsman or in any court."
"Are they now curtailing the rights of anyone of anyone who wants to seek the
truth?"
By virtue of its own actions and inactions, Magsaysay said the Palace is
effectively delivering a message to the people that it employs "a double
standard of justice, one for its friends and the other for its foes."
"It's seems for this administration that it is okay to malign its enemies
through trial by publicity but not its friends even though the resolution stems
off from the recommendation of its own Department of Justice (DOJ)," said
Magsaysay.
The Zambales lawmaker also chided the Palace saying they in the minority do
not have to concoct negative issues against the President as long as he is doing
a good job.
"In the words of his spokesman (Edwin) Lacierda, 'if you have nothing to
hide, then you have nothing to fear,'" said Magsaysay.
"So, what are you afraid of Mr. President, whatever happened to transparency
and accountability plus the daang matuwid that you promised all of us?"
Magsaysay dared Aquino.
The lady solon added it was not only the opposition who are disgusted by
Aquino's inefficiency but the growing legion of frustrated sectors also includes
the business group whom Aquino had enticed to support him.
"Even the business sector considers him too slow," said Magsaysay. "Last
year, he enjoined the business sector to support his Public-Private Partnership
(PPP) Program," said the solon.
"But in this morning's (yesterday's) paper, foreign business executives
lamented the failure of this administration to start the bidding process on the
PPP projects," Magsasay said.
Yesterday, in another national daily, Michael Miloda, vice president and
general manager of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, was
quoted saying that while they are still 100 percent behind Aquino's PPP, they
are still at a lost whether it can happen.
"We're in the middle of June. You have 10 to 11 projects that are supposed to
be rolled out this year. We don't have too much time for this year. In 2012,
there will be other projects to be launched so you have to get started
somewhere," Miloda was quoted saying.
Another foreign business executive, Nobuo Fuji, vice president of the
Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, wa also quoted by
the paper saying that while the projects were announced last year, the
government has yet to commence the bidding process even as second semester of
the year is fast approaching.
Foreign investors are also wary whether their contracts will be honored and
that they will be paid accordingly as the Aquino administration had started
reviewing and cancelling contracts entered into by the previous administration
prompting some business group to describe the Philippines as "a dangerous place
to invest your money."
To date, the government is reviewing some contracts awarded during the
previous administration, such as the North Luzon Railway Project and the Greater
Maritime Access Ports Project, which were found to be "ambiguous" by the
Department of Transportation and Communications. It has also put on hold other
projects including the Laguna Lake dredging project entered into by the past
administration with a Belgian fir,.
Among the PPP infrastructure projects lined up for this year are the
P70-billion South extension of the Light Right Transit Line 1; P11.3-billion
East extension of LRT 2; P7.7-billion privatization of LRT 1; P6.3-billion
privatization of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3;
P11.8-billion Cavite-Laguna Expressway; P10.6 billion second phase of the
Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway; P7.6-billion New Bohol Airport;
P7.5-billion Puerto Princesa Airport; P3.2-billion new Legaspi (Daraga) Airport;
and the P1.5-billion privatization of the Laguindingan Airport.
The opposition-initiated probe on the alleged wrongdoing of some of President
Aquino's cabinet members is both deceiving and misleading, House Majority Leader
Neptali Gonzales II, meanwhile, said.
According to Gonzales the investigation contained in House Resolution 1419 is
tantamount to a call to investigate the president.
"We are not going to prevent them but they are barking up the wrong three.
The investigation has something to do with President Aquino and that is
improper," said Gonzales.
Under the Constitution, Gonzales said, Congress can impeach President Aquino
but could not subject him to an investigation in aid of legislation.
"The proper approach is to file an impeachment case against the President.
But they do not have an impeachable issue against the President," Gonzales said.
Gonzales challenged the members of the House minority bloc led by former
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to file charges against officials of the
Aquino administration whom they believe are involved in alleged irregularities.
The Mandaluyong City lawmaker reiterated that the opposition should refrain
from using the House of Representatives as a venue for "fishing expedition"
against allies of President Aquino.
Gonzales maintained that the opposition's threat to investigate some
officials of President Arroyo is redundant since they can be held liable under
the existing laws on graft and corruption.
"We will never prevent them from filing any resolution to investigate but if
they really feel that there is a violation… in graft and corruption…then the
proper venue is not the House of Representatives, it is the (Office of the)
Ombudsman," said Gonzales.
Resolution (HR) No. 1419 has called on the House committee on good government
and public accountability to look into the irregularities involving Interior and
Local Government Undersecretary Ricardo Puno, Land Transportation Office chief
Virginia Torres, Finance Sec. Cesar Purisima and Bureau of Corrections (Bucor)
former director Ernesto Diokno.
House sources said that the probe on the alleged KKK is an apparent attempt
by Mrs. Arroyo to deflect public attention from the string of cases that are now
pending against her and Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Mikey Arroyo. Mrs.
Arroyo is facing plunder and graft charges while Mikey Arroyo and his wife is
facing tax evasion charges.
The source said that the current probe is part of a well-funded media blitz
hatched by the Arroyos against the Aquino administration. Charlie V. Manalo, Danessa O. Rivera, Gerry Baldo, Jason Faustino
FROM THE PHILSTAR
LTO chief back at work today By Rainier Allan
Ronda (The Philippine Star) Updated June 21, 2011 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Controversial Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief
Virginia Torres might be headed for a collision course with the Department of
Justice (DOJ) when she returns to work today after her 60-day forced leave of
absence lapsed last Sunday.
Torres, an assistant DOTC secretary, told The STAR yesterday that it is up to
DOJ officials to decide if they would file administrative charges against her.
"They should know what to do next. They have the fact-finding committee,"
Torres said.
She said she would invite the public and the media to review the probe
conducted by the DOJ fact-finding committee on her role in the failed illegal
takeover of the central operations center of the LTO's computerization
contractor, Stradcom Corp. last December, and see if the DOJ had given her fair
treatment.
Torres earlier blamed Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for endorsing a
fact-finding committee report on the investigation into the illegal takeover of
the central operations center of the LTO's information technology provider
Stradcom Corp. inside the LTO central office compound along East Avenue in
Quezon City last December.
The investigation panel also recommended the filing of administrative charges
against her for helping the Stradcom splinter group of businessmen Bonifacio
Sumbilla and Aderito Yujuico in their bid to take over the firm's operations
center.
Torres said that the DOJ and De Lima have erred in finding her
administratively liable for her alleged role in the illegal failed takeover.
"Pikon ako sa kanila (I've lost my patience with them). They're the DOJ...
They should know better," she said.
Torres also said that she is ready to resign if critics could prove their
allegations that she is guilty of any wrongdoing.
She denied allegations that she is desperate to cling to her post.
"If they could prove that I had done anything wrong, I would be the one to
tell the President that I'm stepping down from my post," Torres said in an
interview on ABS-CBN's "Umagang Kay Ganda."
Torres said she was saddened that President Aquino is being criticized for
not deciding on her case.
"Our President is honest. If you are in the right, he will be behind you,"
Torres said.
She said that all she wants is to be given due process and for the courts to
decide whether she erred in the Stradcom dispute.
Torres also had kind words for former transportation secretary Jose de Jesus,
whose resignation earlier this month was attributed to Malacañang's refusal to
discipline the LTO chief, allegedly a close presidential friend and shooting
range buddy.
The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) supervises the
LTO.
"If he is in the office (in DOTC), I will go there. You know, si Secretary,
love ko yan eh," Torres said.
Asked what she would say to De Jesus, Torres said she would thank the
outgoing DOTC chief for what she believed was his sincere support for the LTO.
Torres said that she would continue the reforms that she started at the LTO.
DOTC officials earlier admitted that no charges have yet been filed against
Torres as was recommended by the DOJ.
DOTC officials said that Malacañang has failed to provide legal assistance
for the conduct of a proper joint investigation by the DOTC and Malacañang which
would then decide the administrative charges that would be filed against Torres,
as well as her head executive assistant Menelia Mortel.
Upon filing of the administrative charges, the Committee said Torres should
be asked to take an indefinite leave of absence or be issued a preventive
suspension if she refuses to go on leave.
"The preventive suspension is intended to prevent her from using her position
or office to influence prospective witnesses or tamper with the records which
may be vital in the prosecution of the case against her," the committee
explained.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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rights reserved
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