Ombudsman orders dismissal, forfeiture of benefits of LTO exec
A top official of the regional Land Transportation Office (LTO) here was ordered dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas over a longstanding graft case filed against him.
With forfeiture of benefits also imposed and perpetual disqualification to hold public office, Carlos Bautista Jr. was found guilty in Ombudsman case docketed as OMB-V-A-05-0429-I in a Decision penned August 15, 2006 still. Bautista, The News Today (TNT) learned, is currently on leave from his current assignment as in the Financial and Management Division of the LTO regional office.
"Wherefore in view of the foregoing, this Office finds substantial evidence that respondent had committed the ascribed offense and hereby imposes on respondent Carlos Bautista Jr. the penalty of dismissal from the service with forfeiture of all benefits and perpetual disqualification to hold public office," excerpts from the Ombudsman dispositive portion stated.
Execution of said Ombudsman order was forwarded to LTO Regional Director Gerald Camina who sent a Memorandum to Bautista implementing the dismissal order.
"In view thereof, you are directed to vacate your office effective immediately and thereby strictly prohibited to perform such further acts and duties in relation to the same. Your strict compliance is enjoined under pain of contempt," Camiña in a one-page Memorandum obtained by the TNT wrote.
Copies of Camiña's "execution order" was sent to the Commission on Audit LTO resident auditor Aurora Millares, the Legal Section, Administrative Division and Bautista's department, the Financial and Management Division.
No specifics were readily available on what triggered the graft case against Bautista however LTO sources shared that problems for said LTO chief began during his stint as office head of the LTO extension office in Passi City.