By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz
MANILA – Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon on Friday fired an official of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Baguio who was arrested for involvement in a vehicular crash while appearing to be drunk.
Dizon ordered LTO-Motor Vehicle Registration chief Edilberto Bongaoen’s relief and reiterated President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s reminder to all government officials and employees that “we are the people’s servants.”
“Paulit-ulit na sinabi ng Pangulong Marcos na ang mga tao sa gobyerno ay dapat nagseserbisyo sa ating mga kababayan at hindi naghahari-harian at sumusunod sa batas (President Marcos has repeatedly said that the people in the government should serve the people and follow the rule of law, not act like kings),” he said in a press conference at the Department of Transportation (DOTr) office in San Juan City.
In addition to Bongaoen’s suspension and removal from post, Dizon ordered to initiate Bongaoen’s termination in coordination with the Civil Service Commission.
“There is no room for someone like this in the LTO and DOTr. This is unacceptable,” he said.
Dizon said the incident is “too serious a violation to allow a repeat of this.”
“Kung ikaw ay nagta-trabaho sa LTO, ang unang-una mo dapat gawin ay sumunod sa batas ng kalsada. Ang pagmamaneho ng lasing ay delikadong violation dahil madali kang madisgrasya at makadisgrasya (If you work at the LTO, the first thing you need to do is follow the rules of the road. Drunk driving is a dangerous violation because it makes it too easy to get yourself and others involved in an accident),” he said. (PNA)
