Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1777876051721690647843_1495535749288343_315875416287088673_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Coalition 169 files a graft complaint before the Ombudsman vs former, current LTO, and DOTr officials for allegedly favoring an IT service provider. Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Coalition 169 files a graft complaint before the Ombudsman vs former, current LTO, and DOTr officials for allegedly favoring an IT service provider. <em>Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — A group on Monday filed a graft complaint against several former and current transport officials before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly favoring an IT service provider, which resulted in the “continued imposition of computer fees.” </p><p>Coalition 169 lodged at the Office of the Ombudsman the graft complaint against former Land Transportation (LTO) chiefs Vigor Mendoza II and Teofilo Guadiz III; former Transportation secretaries Vince Dizon and Jaime Bautista, among other officials.</p><p>The group also named in the complaint incumbent LTO chief Marcus Lacanilao, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez, and Stradcom President Anthony Quiambao.</p><p>In the complaint, they claimed that the respondents “extended undue favoritism to Stradcom Corporation” in relation to the LTO’s IT systems, hence the computer fees since February 2013.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/7/stradcom-denies-graft-allegations-affirms-compliance-with-lto-it-contract-1018">Stradcom denies graft allegations, affirms compliance with LTO-IT contract</a></div><p>According to the group, fees have been generated between P2 billion and P3 billion annually, describing this as a &quot;financial burden on millions of Filipinos transacting&quot; with the LTO.</p><p>The complainants said they filed a complaint to demand accessibility to the contracts between DOTr, LTO, and Stradcom, describing the P169 computer fees as “questionable.”</p><p>“Sa LTMS, this is government-owned, walang computer fees, walang additional fees versus Stradcom na may P169. Ito yung ating pinaglalaban. If we are going to compute, sa data mayroon tayong 12 million vehicles. Sa P169, kung mayroong 12 million vehicles…  that is P2 billion annual eh nakaka 10 taon na sila,” said Joselito Reyes, spokesperson of Coalition 169.</p><p>Bernard Yu, among the complainants, told reporters the current and former senior transport officials committed “gross inexcusable negligence” qualified as graft.</p><p>Yu claimed that the IT system through Stradcom was not approved in recent years.</p><p>“Upon assuming office, they failed to verify whether the necessary legal and regulatory approvals were in place. Did they check that the Stradcom contract that was signed in 2016 had the necessary government mandated approvals?” said Yu.</p><p>“They did not check. We did check. Public records point to manifest partiality and preferential treatment towards the previous IT provider. As Filipino taxpayers, it is our duty to act. Filing this complaint allows the Office of the Ombudsman to conduct a full and independent investigation and determine accountability,” he added.</p><p>The group is urging the Ombudsman to conduct a preliminary investigation and file graft cases against the officials and hold Stradcom liable for “knowingly participating in and benefitting from the unlawful acts complained of.” </p><p>“Hindi nila na-check kung valid ba ang existing contracts ng Stradcom. Starting February 2013 where it expired… up to 2023, noong ginagamit pa ang Stradcom. So 10 years’ worth. So kung P2 billion times 10 years, it is 20 billion,” said Yu.</p><p>Should the allegations be proven, Yu said the transport officials had allowed a private company to charge the Filipino public for these computer fees “without a legal basis.”</p><p>“Check mo muna kung valid ang contract mo kasi it impacts all of us. Why did they not check if these current contracts were still valid?” he added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/13/dotr-says-motorists-can-use-e-driver-s-license-in-traffic-violations-1051">DOTr says motorists can use e-driver’s license, online payment in traffic violations</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>PENDING IN SC</strong></div><p>For his part, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez, a respondent in the complaint, said any form of corruption or irregularities do not have a place in the DOTr.</p><p>Lopez said while they have yet to receive the complaint, he is confident that his agency and LTO are prepared to face this in a proper forum.</p><p>&quot;Tinitiyak din ni Secretary Lopez na patuloy na inaayos ng DOTr at LTO ang mga sistema nito para makapagbigay ng mas magandang serbisyo sa publiko, at makapagsulong ng transparency at accountability sa lahat ng aming mga programa at proyekto,&quot; the DOTr statement read.</p><p>Mendoza, the chairperson of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), said he has yet to read the complaint filed at the Ombudsman.</p><p>Mendoza maintained that the Commission on Audit, Congress, and even the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) described the contract as “flawed from its inception.”</p><p>“Simulang-simula, mali na. OSG Ang nagsasabi na dapat ‘cancel the contract now.’ This is now pending before the Supreme Court. Tagal na po yan. I think it&#x27;s high time sana, magdesisyon na ng Korte Suprema so we are guided properly,” the LTFRB chief told reporters.</p><p>“Hindi tayo pwede bumalik sa mano-mano. I don&#x27;t think the public will accept a system that is back to manual. It will create more problems than good. So, yun ang kailangan paghandaan. Whatever decision the Supreme Court will make,” he added.</p><p>In a text message to ABS-CBN News, the LTO deferred to comment for now as they have yet to receive a copy of the complaint.</p><p>ABS-CBN News reached out to the other respondents and transport officials tagged in the complaint, but they have yet to respond as of this story’s posting.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2026/2/4/dotr-pressed-on-lto-having-2-it-systems-providers-1659">DOTr pressed on LTO having 2 IT systems, providers</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lsVRa1oB9LY?si=SV2CzJodGQ90_HCp" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>A group on Monday filed a graft complaint against several former and current transport officials before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly favoring an IT service provider, which resulted in the “continued imposition of computer fees.”</p>

A group on Monday filed a graft complaint against several former and current transport officials before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly favoring an IT service provider, which resulted in the “continued imposition of computer fees.”

Group files graft complaint vs former, current transport officials over ‘annual computer scheme’

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Group files graft complaint vs former, current transport officials over ‘annual computer scheme’

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 04, 2026 02:49 PM PHT

|

Updated May 04, 2026 03:30 PM PHT

Read More:

LTO

DOTr

Stradcom

Coalition 169

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