A group of governance watchdog is formally asking Department of Transportation (DoTR) Sec. Arthur Tugade to conduct an investigation on Land Transportation Office (LTO) Central Visayas regional director Victor Emmanuel Caindic over allegations arising from complaints of delays in the processing and release of Official Receipts and Certificates of Registration (OR/CR) of new vehicles.
According to reports, the group identified Pinoy Aksyon for Governance and the Environment (PinoyAksyon) sent a formal complaint in a form of a letrer dated July 11, 2020, to Tugade asking the latter to conduct a probe arising from complaints levied against Caindec.
The Pinoy Aksyon letter reads, “Early this year, there were loud public complaints against LTO Central Visayas (LTO 7) Director Victor Caindec. The issues were valid and may need urgent probe.”
Pinoy Aksyon in the same letter said that there is a need to look at the complaints against Caindec even with the nation’s attention is being focused on the Covid pandemic.
“The intervention of the watchdog is fueled by complaints from stakeholders in Region 7 of inadvertent and unprecedented delays in the processing and release of Official Receipts and Certificates of Registration of new vehicles,” Pinoy Aksyon chairperson Bency G. Ellorin said in a report.
He added that the issues being levied against Caindec cannot simply be swept under the rug. In crises situations, it is important for government to look into the allegations stemming from public’s complaint, Ellorin said.
It can be remembered that back in October 2019, Caindec reported that the LTO-7 has no backlog in terms of issuing OR/CR.
Despite Caindec’s claim, Ellorin said the issues against the government official “remains unresolved and pervasive.”
PinoyAksyon told Tugade, “While we would not like to speculate on the reasons, maybe perhaps, an inquiry is in order, especially now that we are gearing up to the new normal and the need for mobility re-escalates as our economy re-starts.”
The availability of transportation has become a major concern as more areas start to transition to the so-called “new normal” with transportation providers are operating at reduced capacities so social distancing rules can be followed.
“Both the shortfalls in public transportation and changes in the methods of doing business necessitates mobility adaptation. Mobility is essential, and the motorcycle for example is a transportation option for the poor. For this to happen, [the] government has to be an enabler, not a stumbling block,” it said in its letter.
Pinoy Aksyon said it opted to bring the issue to Tugade’s attention with the firm belief on the reform agenda of the DoTR.
CAINDEC’S REACTION
In a Facebook post on July 17, 2020, Caindec posted his reaction over the report that Pinoy Aksyon is asking Tugade to conduct a probe on him.
He said that a “PR wire” or a press release sent to almost all media outlets in the country, was done by a public relations (PR) firm based in Cagayan de Oro (CDO).
He added that the release is saying that Tugade is being urged to probe the former. He noted that one of the chairmen of one the biggest motorcycle dealers being probed is also based in CDO.
He went on to ask if the situation is just a coincidence.
“Kamo mga motorcycle clubs ug mga nangutang ug motor, paminawa ni ninyo. Labi na katong na imbargohan or gi hulga nga imbargohan kay wala naka data sa motor, kay lagi no-work no-pay samtang ECQ ug GCQ,” Caindec said in his Facebook post.
Caindec continued,” Wala na gi “annotate” inyo mga rehistro, so pasabot IKAW ANG LEGITIMATE NGA TAG-IYA. Mao na ang rason nga dili nila ihatag inyo mga REHISTRO, ug dugay-dugayon pa rehistro sa LTO para dili LISOD ang pag IMBARGO.”
In the same post, Caindec said,” Mao na nga SUKO ni mga DEALERS nako, kay BISTADO na ila RACKET.”
He ended his post by saying, “Don’t me.”