LTO-7 exec faces complaint for illegal tapping, extortion

A senior official of the Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas (LTO-7) is facing a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for allegedly facilitating the illegal tapping of water and electricity lines to a private company, in addition to alleged extortion activities.

- Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/RAE

In a letter-complaint dated August 27, 2025, an employee of the LTO-7 Motor Vehicle Inspection Center (MVIC) in Mandaue City, only identified as Carmen Celestial (real name withheld to avoid reprisal), accused Assistant Regional Director Arturo Apolinar of grave misconduct, dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Celestial alleged that Apolinar allowed an insurance company to illegally connect water and power lines from the MVIC compound to a privately constructed building---to be used as an insurance office---adjacent to the LTO facility.

"This allowed the insurance office to benefit from free water and electricity to the detriment of the government," the complaint stated.