CALABARZON LTO CHIEF ACCUSED OF EXTORTION

THE chief of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) was accused of extortion by a group of drivers and operators.

A complaint was filed by the group against LTO-Calabarzon director Cupido Gerry Asuncion before the Office of the President on March 7.

Drivers and operators serving routes in Cavite, including Naic-PITX, Tagaytay-PITX, Indang-PITX, Alfonso-PITX and Mendez-PITX, in a complaint addressed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said that Asuncion demanded P50,000 from each bus operator who wanted to talk to him.

According to the complainants, Asuncion also asked for a monthly fee of P25,000 in exchange for the non-apprehension of their buses by LTO traffic enforcers.

The complainants alleged that LTO enforcers fabricated violations against their buses if they refused to comply with Asuncion’s demands.

The group lamented the difficulties being experienced by bus operators and drivers due to the alleged extortion activities of the Calabarzon LTO head.

They appealed to the President to immediately act on the matter as Asuncion is a presidential appointee.