News update New LTO head vows urgent reforms

PANIQUI, Tarlac - Assistant Secretary Virginia P. Torres, the newly-designated chief of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), said Sunday that she was directed by President Aquino to rid the graft-ridden agency of various irregularities, including red-tape.

A family friend of the President, Torres who is a resident here, said that she was immediately ordered by the Mr. Aquino right after assuming the LTO top post to cleanse the agency of red-tape, fixers, and colorum operators - the number one stumbling block of the LTO since time immemorial.

The President's directive to the LTO chief came in the wake of various reports that alleged massive red-tape, the intervention of influential fixers inside the LTO in the processing papers and franchises, among others, have prejudiced the public particularly the motorists.


''I'll do my homework immediately,'' said Torres in reaction to the appeal made by Party-list Rep. Vigor Mendoza.

As this developed, Torres warned those influence-peddling and fixers inside the LTO that she will make the necessary move no matter whose toes she steps on just to rid the agency of corrupt and other irregularities to smoothly serve the ''boss'' of the President - the public