LTO chief asserts neutrality amid Stradcom corporate war

Land Transportation Office (LTO) head Virginia Torres denied favoring one faction in the corporate dispute at Stradcom, the information technnology (IT) service provider of the LTO. Before a Department of Justice (DOJ) fact-finding panel on Friday, Torres branded as "colorful stories conjured by malicious minds" the allegations that she favored the group led by businessman Bonifacio Sumbillo, the party claiming to be the new owners of Stradcom. Armed men allegedly linked to the Sumbillo group tried to take over the Stradcom office at the LTO compound on December 9, 2010. The take-over resulted in the paralysis of LTO operations for hours nationwide. The armed men supposedly refused to let Stradcom technicians handling the LTO’s computerized database enter the area and do their work. On Friday, Torres said that in the dispute, her office is not the player, but the victim. "I have always maintained neutrality in this war. If any, the role of the LTO in this corporate power-tripping of wrangling businessmen has been that of the victim caught in the crossfire," Torres told the investigating panel led by Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III. The meeting was held at the National Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Manila. Stardcom's current management is led by Cesar Quiambao, Sumbillo's former business partner. Quiambao had accused Torres of conspiring with the Sumbillo group and of knowing about the takeover of the Stradcom office. Torres and her aide, Menelia Mortel, were supposedly caught on Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) entering the Stradcom building with Sumbillo and businessman Aderito Yujuico. Protecting LTO's interests However, on Friday, Torres said she has nothing to do with the dispute. "Two opposing groups of businessmen are fighting over control of Stradcom, the sole IT service provider of the LTO.They are fighting over control of a multi-billion peso company that has monopoly over LTO services for the past 12 years," said Torres. She admitted that such "power-grabbing" has jeopardized LTO services to the public. Torres then said that she is more concerned on protecting her office's interests and service. "My actions are protective of the interest of the public. The transacting public of the LTO which is my primary concern. My actions are consistent with my sworn obligation to advance the interest of the public," said Torres. – VVP, GMANews.TV