Former, current transport execs face graft raps

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MANILA, Philippines — Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez is facing a complaint for graft before the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged irregularities in the continued collection of computer fees from motorists.

Lopez yesterday denied accusations of corruption in the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Multisectoral group Coalition 169 accused former and incumbent transportation officials of granting “undue favoritism” to information technology service provider Stradcom for the IT systems of the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

The group questioned the collection of P169.06 in computer fee from motorists.

“In the government-owned Land Transportation Management System (LTMS), there are no computer and additional fees. Whereas with Stradcom, there is P169,” Coalition 169 spokesman Joselito Reyes said.

“If we compute based on the data, we have 12 million vehicles. At P169 per vehicle, that amounts to P2 billion annually and they’ve been collecting for 10 years,” Reyes added.

The group is also demanding access to the contracts between the DOTr, LTO and Stradcom.

According to Coalition 169, previous and current transport officials have neglected to check the validity of Stradcom’s contract when it expired in 2013.

The group also asked the ombudsman to suspend the incumbent officials for up to six months.