LTO exec director to take over as OIC

MANILA, Philippines – Land Transportation Office (LTO) executive director Alfonso Tan will be officer in charge of the agency until Malacañang appoints a permanent replacement for outgoing LTO chief Virginia Torres.

Transportation secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya told reporters Thursday, October 31 that his department is still waiting for Malacanang's final word on who will head LTO when Torres’ retirement takes effect in November.

"We’re waiting for papers from Malacañang. We will designate Aljon Tan as OIC until papers from Malacañang come out," he said.

Tan was appointed second-in-command at LTO in September 2011 by then Transportation secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas.

Roxas tasked Tan, a lawyer, to review existing transportation laws, rules and regulations, and implement new ones as needed.

In the meantime, Torres announced her retirement early October, more than a month after a video of her playing casino went viral.

Under Memorandum Circular No. 8 issued by Malacañang in 2001, "all government personnel concerned are prohibited from entering, staying and/or playing at casinos."

Torres admitted she went to a casino, but said this happened "way back." – Rappler.com