Former Land Transportation Office (LTO) chiefs Vigor Mendoza II and Teofilo Guadiz III are facing a six-month suspension without pay, as ordered by the Office of the Ombudsman. The suspension stems from allegations of grave misconduct related to the continued operation of the old LTO information technology system.
Mismanagement of IT Systems Raises Concerns
According to the Ombudsman's order dated August 17, 2026, both officials showed a blatant disregard for established government policies aimed at transitioning to the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS). This transition was intended to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
The continued parallel use of the two systems caused an ‘additional burden and expense for the transacting public’ due to computer fees charged by STRADCOM, which amounted to PhP13,379,196,499.73 from 2019 to 2025.
Ombudsman’s Statement
- Mendoza is the current chair of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
- Guadiz currently heads the Office of Transportation Cooperatives.
The Ombudsman emphasized that the actions of Mendoza and Guadiz not only violated official directives but also resulted in substantial financial losses for the public. The Commission on Audit (COA) had previously flagged the inefficiencies stemming from the dual operation of the LTO IT systems.
The LTMS was formalized in 2021 as the primary platform for vehicle registration and licensing. However, both Mendoza and Guadiz allegedly favored the older STRADCOM system during their tenures, which has drawn scrutiny from government oversight bodies.
The suspension aims to preserve evidence and prevent further misconduct while investigations continue. This incident underscores the ongoing challenges in Philippine government IT management and accountability.