ILOILO — A sweeping anti-corruption drive by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Western Visayas to dismantle illegal transactions in the agency has led to the arrest of 26 individuals linked to fixing schemes and the filing of 96 cases — 18 of which resulted in convictions.
The intensified campaign led by Regional Director Gaudioso Geduspan II aligns with the nationwide reform agenda of LTO chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao aimed at restoring public trust and rooting out long-entrenched corruption.
“For several years, LTO has struggled with public trust, often due to the presence of fixers and irregular transactions,” Geduspan said, acknowledging long-standing public complaints about the agency.
Since assuming office in 2024, Geduspan said LTO Region 6 has shifted from reactive enforcement to a more systemic crackdown targeting both fixers and internal vulnerabilities that enable corruption.
The agency’s legal arm has pursued 96 cases against offenders, reflecting what officials describe as a more sustained and results-driven approach.
Authorities said the campaign goes beyond public-facing operations, with LTO-6 also launching an internal cleansing program to investigate and discipline erring personnel.
“Change must begin within,” Geduspan emphasized, as the agency imposed stricter sanctions ranging from preventive suspension to outright dismissal for employees found guilty of misconduct.
The regional office said the dual strategy — external enforcement and internal reform — marks a “paradigm shift” in how the agency addresses corruption, aiming to ensure accountability at all levels.
Officials added that tighter monitoring and enforcement have already yielded “clear and positive outcomes,” with ongoing efforts expected to further curb illegal transactions and improve service delivery.
Geduspan reiterated LTO-6’s zero-tolerance stance, declaring: “Fixers are unwelcome in this region.”/PN
