A newly formed citizens’ group, Coalition 169, filed a graft complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against current and former officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) over the continued collection of a Php 169 computer fee in agency transactions.
In its complaint affidavit filed on May 4, Coalition 169 accused several incumbent and former transport officials, along with executives of Stradcom Corporation, of possible violations of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The group alleged that motorists have continued paying the computer fee since 2013 due to the parallel operation of two systems at the LTO, the privately managed Stradcom platform and the government-run Land Transportation Management System.
Coalition 169 said the continued use of both platforms should be reviewed, while the government’s digital system should be fully utilized to avoid what it described as unnecessary duplication.
Coalition spokesperson Johny Gomez said the fees may have generated between Php 2 billion and Php 3 billion annually over the past several years.
The complainants are also seeking the preventive suspension of incumbent officials named in the case, as well as the possible refund of fees collected from motorists.
Among those named in the complaint were DOTr Acting Sec. Giovanni Lopez, other current and former transport officials, and executives linked to Stradcom.
In a statement, the DOTr said it had noted reports about the complaint and was prepared to address the allegations through the proper legal forum once it formally receives copies of the case.