Sorry’ gets LTO deputy agents off the hook

Saturday, May 27, 2006
Sun Star

THE nine deputized agents of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) arrested Thursday afternoon for allegedly harassing a motorist were released from detention yesterday after they apologized. Lawyer Ernesto Macabare, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 head agent, said the complainant, Katherine Araneta-Alemania, signed an undertaking that she was no longer interested in proceeding with her complaint. She cited “humanitarian reasons” for the deputized agents, who spent a night at the bureau’s detention facility. Her supposed change of heart happened after a closed-door conference yesterday morning with the nine agents: Balbino Guerrero, Gervise Teodosio, Expedito Iroc, Filomeno Lim Jr., Alejandro Palarisan, Jose Rommel Ongtanco, Joseph Ryan Go, Arnold Chua and Johnny Baladjay. Lawyer Vicente Gador Jr. of LTO 7, LTO 7 assistant director Edgar Cabase and the group’s lawyer attended the conference, together with some members of the complainant’s family. According to Macabare, the agents individually apologized during the conference. They also prepared a letter of apology. Investigation Cabase assured that the incident would be internally investigated. “I actually encourage people to file complaints regarding this because this is how we can improve our service to the public,” he said in an interview after the conference. In the meantime, he said, he has suggested that the authority granted for the nine respondents as “deputy agents” be withdrawn. But if sources are to be believed, other factors were also at play. Well-placed individuals allegedly attempted to intercede for the nine respondents, many of who come from wealthy and influential families. Filomeno Lim Jr., for example, is the son of Filomeno Lim Sr., the incumbent Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry president. On their own “I don’t know if calls were indeed made but I can confirm that they didn’t call me,” Macabare said. NBI operatives arrested the nine along Osmeña Blvd. The deputized agents had flagged down Alemania’s vehicle and charged her with at least three traffic code violations, ranging from the use of an unauthorized plate to failing to carry tools in her trunk. She was supposedly crying while attempting to remove the license plate off the back of her car with a pair of pliers, as the deputized LTO agents looked on. The NBI operatives, who were returning from an operation in Lapu-Lapu City, took pity on her and asked to speak with the “organic” LTO officer on the scene. After they confirmed the deputized agents were on their own, everyone was taken into custody. (KNR)