Friday, January 04, 2008 (Philippines)

Some of the passengers the Coast Guard rescued from mb Jay Paul, a motorized boat from Cuming Island in Inabanga, Bohol. The motorboat ran into big waves and strong winds off Cordova town in Mactan. (Sun.star photo/Allan Defensor) QUESTIONS over the alleged registration of smuggled vehicles and the loss of some P5 million to a missing cashier have prompted an order to transfer Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7 Director Alex Leyson. Leyson confirmed that Assistant Secretary Reynaldo Berroya and Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) Undersecretary Annelie Lontoc informed him he will be transferred to LTO 8 in Tacloban City, while the congressional inquiry on vehicle smuggling is ongoing. Leyson said he will swap positions with LTO 8 Director Raul Aguiluz, based on the order signed by DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza. [full story]