Stradcom files disobedience, graft raps vs LTO chief

Stradcom Corporation on Thursday filed before the Office of the Ombudsman corruption and disobedience charges against Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Virginia Torres surrounding the takeover of the firm's office in Quezon City, as well as the withholding of P1 billion in overdue payment to the company. Margaux Salcedo, spokesperson for the information technology (IT) firm Stradcom, claimed that Torres violated Section 3 (e and f) of RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, because she allegedly favored a group of businessmen that claimed to be the new owner of the IT firm. Stradcom, under a Build-Own-Operate agreement, is the firm tasked to provide IT services for the LTO at no cost to the government. As of posting time, GMA News Online is still trying to reach LTO executive director Redentor Reyes for comment on the matter, as Torres is currently traveling on official business. On December 9 last year, a group of around 40 armed men took over the Stradcom main headquarters in Quezon City upon orders from businessmen Bonifacio Sumbilla and Aderito Yujuico. Salcedo maintained the two men were "usurpers" and "impostors." The Department of Justice (DOJ) had on March 4 recommended Torres’ dismissal from service her alleged complicity in the takeover, which had led to an almost six-hour disruption of LTO operations. A DOJ fact-finding committee also recommended to the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) the filing of gross negligence or gross incompetence charges against Torres, for having "favored" Sumbilla and Yujuico's group because she did not prevent the takeover even when she had prior knowledge of it. (See: DOJ wants LTO chief sacked for takeover of Stradcom HQ) The LTO chief, along with her aide Menelia Mortel, was caught on closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera entering the Stradcom building with Sumbilla and Yujuico. Apart from "helping" Sumbilla's group in the takeover, Torres has allegedly been withholding six months' worth of payment to Stradcom amounting to P1 billion. "Torres now appears to be deliberately trying to cause the paralysis of Stradcom operations for lack of funds by continuing to withhold payments," Salcedo said. "But who delivered the services for the past six months that payment has been withheld? The stock and transfer book of Stradcom reflects no such names (of Sumbilla and Yujuico)," she added. Stradcom also sued Torres for violation of the provisions on "Open Disobedience" under Article 231 of the Revised Penal Code. The IT firm said Torres disobeyed her superiors from the DOTC, which supervises LTO, when they ordered her to pay Stradcom. Salcedo said the DOTC had sent Torres three memoranda dated February 22, March 10 and 16, but all went unheeded. Torres also earlier faced a separate investigation at the DOJ for her alleged connivance with car theft syndicates, although she was later cleared by an inter-agency task force. (See: Task force clears LTO chief Torres on car registration mess) Despite the controversies hounding the LTO chief, President Benigno Aquino III assured the public that Torres still enjoys his full confidence and trust. (See: PNoy: LTO chief still enjoys my trust but must ‘act faster’ on issues)—JV, GMA News