Land Transportation Office has removed, suspended, or formally charged 56 officials and personnel during the first six months of Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao as part of an intensified internal cleansing campaign against corruption and misconduct.
Citing a report from its Intelligence and Investigation Division, the LTO said the employees were linked to administrative cases involving grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, extortion or “kotong,” falsification of official documents, and other violations affecting the integrity of public service.
Those involved included one presidential appointee and 34 permanent employees assigned to the Central Office, National Capital Region, Region II, Region IV-B, Region VII, the Cordillera Administrative Region, and Caraga.
Some personnel have already been placed under preventive suspension and formally charged, while others were endorsed to disciplinary bodies such as the Central Office Disciplinary Board, Regional Administrative Action Board, and the Department of Transportation for further action.
The agency also dismissed 16 job order personnel and stripped several individuals of deputation authority, including two local government auxiliary enforcers and one security guard.
Meanwhile, two officials from the NCR and Region XII were issued stern warnings over administrative lapses.
Lacanilao said the actions form part of his intensified campaign against corruption, negligence, and abuse inside the agency, in line with his seven-point priority agenda focused on integrity, transparency, and improved public service.
“Our directive is clear: there is no room in the LTO for corruption, negligence, and abuse of power. Anyone found violating the law and the public trust will be held accountable, regardless of position,” Lacanilao said.
He stressed that the agency’s reform efforts would not only focus on abusive motorists and fixers, but also on employees who undermine the credibility of the LTO.
“The LTO will not only focus on external operations against abusive motorists and fixers, but also on cleaning its own ranks to restore public trust in the agency,” he said.
“No reform will succeed if there are employees who destroy the agency’s integrity and the public’s confidence,” he added.
The LTO said investigations into erring personnel would continue as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen accountability within the agency.
The agency also encouraged the public to report corruption, extortion, fixer transactions, and other irregularities to help protect the integrity of public service.