LTO-6 exec axed from post after traffic spat

By Jennifer P. Rendon and Joseph B.A. Marzan

A Land Transportation Office (LTO)-6 regional office executive was relieved from his post for allegedly violating traffic rules in Iloilo City.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas confirmed the news via his Facebook account where he posted an order signed by Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante, LTO chief.

In an Office Order No. 2021-234 dated Oct. 26, 2021, Galvante stated that, “in the best interest of the service, Mr. Arturo Apolinar, Director I, LTO Region VI, Iloilo City, is relieved of his present duties and responsibilities and is to clear himself to his present accountabilities, effective immediately.”

It was reported earlier that Apolinar was the assistant regional director of LTO-6. But the agency later clarified that he was an assistant to LTO-6 Regional Director Eric Lenard Tabaldo.

The assistant regional director of LTO-6 is Atty. Gaudioso Geduspan.

Apolinar is also expected to report to Galvante upon receipt of the order.

“All other issuances inconsistent here with are deemed repealed; revoked and/or superseded accordingly. For strict compliance,” the ordered said.

Prior to Galvante’s order, Treñas confirmed that he received a message from Transportation Secretary Arturo Tugade relative to the case of Apolinar.

“Gen. Galvante has instructed RD to relieve him po. Thank you sir for letting me know. Stay safe!” Tugade told Treñas.

In the same FB post, Treñas thanked Tugade and Galvante for their “prompt action against someone who in his mind is beyond the law.”

Early morning of Tuesday, the mayor made a lengthy post denouncing government officials who do not follow traffic signs, “most especially if they work with the LTO which is called upon to execute national laws on traffic.”

He also urged Eric Lenard Tabaldo, LTO-6 regional director, to impose the necessary disciplinary action on Apolinar who is technically under him.

“Furthermore, the City of Iloilo will file the necessary cases in the proper court or agency to protect the integrity of the PSTMO,” he said.

Treñas scored Apolinar for not complying with the traffic rules, especially the red lights.

“He feels he is beyond the law,” he said.

He stressed that it was the fourth time that Apolinar had been caught beating the red light.

Again, Treñas stressed that Apolinar thinks he is beyond the law.

“LTO is supposed to implement traffic rules and regulations. How can we expect the ordinary citizen to follow the traffic rules and regulations when a high official of the LTO is beyond the law?” he said.

Further, “It is incumbent the LTO and DOTR must discipline the ARD who refuses to follow traffic rules and reassign him to a place that is fitting for him,” he said,

Treñas then said he reported the matter to Tugade, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles, and presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

Treñas said proper cases will be prepared against Apolinar on Tuesday.

“The Philippines is still a country under a government of laws and not of men. We must ensure that the rule of law prevails. We cannot allow an assistant regional director to act beyond the rule of law in Iloilo City. The city will file all such cases as may be warranted against him,” he said.

He told Daily Guardian via text message that the Iloilo City government will still file a case of abuse of authority against the sacked official.

“Justice is served and the law prevails as LTO employee Apolinar is relieved of his present duties and responsibilities. We must remember that no one is above the law and as public officials, we must serve as a good example to the community by abiding the laws,” the mayor said in a statement.

Apolinar and personnel of the Iloilo City Public Safety and Transport Management Office (PSTMO) were at odds after the former allegedly violated a traffic rule.

Worse, traffic aides Fritz Michael Tacaisan, Gerald Enujado, and Anthony Bas claimed that Apolinar did not stop and made the enforcers follow him to his office at McArthur Highway in Jaro, Iloilo City.

The PSTMO personnel booked the complaint around 10:30 a.m. of Oct 25.

They claimed that the incident happened an hour earlier as Apolinar crossed the intersection of El-98 Street in Jaro district.

He allegedly “beat the red light.”

They had to tail Apolinar to his office after he allegedly did not pull over. Instead, he instructed tailing motorcycle-riding traffic aides to follow him to his office.

It was later learned that the latest incident was the fourth time for the LTO official. The past three incidents happened in the past week.

But Apolinar insisted that he did not violate rules. He claimed that the green light was winding down to the last three seconds when he crossed the intersection line.

When the “yellow” light signaled, he was already in the middle of the road.

It was gathered that Apolinar came from his house in Barangay Tabucan, Mandurriao district and was on his way to his office when the incident happened.

If he did commit a violation and wanted to run off, Apolinar said he wouldn’t have travelled on normal speed.

As to why he did not stop when signaled to pull over, Apolinar said he wanted to meet them at his office where they could better talk things out.

He claimed that if he stopped on the road, the PSTMO personnel might have just let him go if they learned that he was an LTO official.

If the PSTMO would like to file charges again him, Apolinar said he would answer them in the proper venue.

He also accused PSTMO personnel of only looking for violators instead of managing the traffic. He also hit them for parking their vehicles in the area that obstructed traffic flow.

Apolinar also claimed that some PSTMO vehicles were not registered with LTO.

But PSTMO head Jeck Conlu stood by his personnel and regarded Apolinar as someone who uses his power to get his way.

Conlu pointed out, though, that he has no problem dealing with the LTO-6 or its other officers.