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Saturday, July 22, 2006
LTO 7 official faces probe
By Allan I. Varquez
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Manila is investigating the alleged irregularity committed by its assistant regional director in Central Visayas.
Two staff members of the LTO central office's legal department came to Cebu City last Thursday to probe allegations that LTO 7 Assistant Regional Director Edgar Cabase converted his office on the second floor of the LTO building into his living quarters since he assumed his post on Oct. 8, 2001.
The accusation was contained in an unsigned letter.
Workers in the building were not surprised by the visit because talks of the alleged irregularity have been circulating since early this year.
The Manila office received the letter last June 6.
Aside from the mattress and pillow Cabase placed in his office, the letter sender also alleged that the official also has a video karaoke, which he would play at night with the airconditioning unit on.
Without hesitation, Cabase admitted that he has been using his office as living quarters from the first day he came to Cebu.
The allegation did not make him angry.
Forced open
His office was forcibly opened and the two Manila officers took pictures that will be used as evidence.
"I can shout to the world that I have been staying in my office. It has become knowledge of my colleagues. I did that upon the advice of my former director and for my safety also. They should not treat me like a criminal," he told Sun.Star Cebu in a mobile phone interview.
Cabase and LTO 7 Director Alex Leyson are in Manila for a three-day midyear planning seminar on improving LTO services.
He will file a complaint before the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) against the two legal staff members and some of his colleagues in the regional office.
He felt his rights were trampled.
"I should be treated as a Cebuano because Cebu is my second home and I have learned to love Cebu in five long years of staying this place…. They should have not forced open my office just to gather evidence," he said.
He said his colleagues own the TV set and the DVD player in his office.
Advice
In making his office as his living quarters also, he said the government had saved money. He chose his office upon the advice of former LTO 7 director Porferio Mendoza.
Cabase said LTO officials who are not residents of the place where they are assigned are given allowances so they could find a house or room to rent.
"It would have been different if I collected my quarters allowance and stayed in the office. That is corruption and I don't like that," he said.
People who are not satisfied with his management style are behind the accusations, he said.
"This is nothing but a demolition job and if they are brave enough to come out, I am very willing to face them squarely," he said.
The letter also accused Cabase of using government money for his visits to his family in Bicol.
But Acting Finance Division Chief Maria Corazon Bascon said the accusation is far from reality because requisitions for reimbursements of expenses incurred for official trips should be supported by certificate of appearance, trip tickets, itinerary, office order and certificate of travel completed.
An official could not be reimbursed even with only one missing requirement, she said.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 22, 2006 issue)
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