LTFRB exec in scam quits
An official of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has resigned from her post prior to her reassignment to Mindanao following the discovery of a scam involving the alleged sale of franchises to transport operators.
Mary Jane Manajero, administrative officer at the LTRFB’s National Capital Region (NCR) office, resigned on Monday.
Manajero cited health reasons for her resignation, LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada said.
Manajero was among the four officials earlier relieved by LTFRB chief Martin Delgra III for their alleged involvement in missing case folders, ghost database and numerous questionable transactions at the agency.
She was ordered reassigned to the LTFRB office in Cotabato City after her unit was found to have been maintaining a ghost database, according to Lizada.
Manajero, NCR director Rodolfo Jaucian, resigned hearing officer Melchor Fronda and transportation development officer Jean Gunda are being probed by the LTFRB for alleged illegal transactions.
The alleged irregularities were revealed following an entrapment operation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Nov. 21 wherein a complainant reportedly paid P250,000 and an additional P30,000 to a fixer.
Lizada also cited a franchise verification case wherein an applicant paid P115,000 for a transaction.
She said three case folders are missing, including the one pertaining to the NBI entrapment operation.
“Somebody must have taken out the folders. They are in big trouble. We’re looking into it and getting each accountable officer to certify the papers,” Lizada said.
Jaucian has been relieved from his post and transferred to the CESO (career executive service officers) pool on floating status.
Lizada said violations committed by the NCR office include the sale and transfer of franchises beyond deadline, modification of routes, and placing of franchises under other transport classifications.
The LTFRB also discovered that the NCR office was keeping a ghost database, where the officials could have manipulated franchise figures.
The LTFRB belied reports that 44 corrupt employees of the agency have been transferred to Mindanao.
The employees either resigned or were terminated due to corruption, the LTFRB said.