Did new Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Markus Lacanilao just receive his political payback for his role in handing former president Rodrigo Duterte over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) where he continues to languish in detention while awaiting trial?

Lacanilao took his oath as LTO chief before Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez at the Department of Transportation in Quezon City on Friday, 10 October.

He succeeded Vigor Mendoza II, who now heads the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

On Saturday, Malacañang announced the appointment of Lacanilao, the former Special Envoy on Transnational Crime, as chief of the LTO.

Meanwhile, Mendoza replaced Teofilo Guadiz III who is the new chairperson of the Office of Transport Cooperatives.

Lacanilao’s former position involved coordinating with international bodies like Interpol on cross-border crime enforcement and he oversaw aspects of the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) under the Office of the President.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it

“In fairness to Atty. Vigor Mendoza, his performance as LTO chief has been commendable and there has been no public clamor for his replacement, unlike Atty. Guadiz whom some transport leaders accused of incompetence, although others had come to his defense,” advocacy group said.

“Lacanilao, the former special envoy on Transnational Crime, was cited for contempt by the Senate for allegedly lying. He was also the one who personally turned over President Rodrigo Duterte to the ICC,” the transport group leader said.

“They have a saying, if it is not broken, why fix it?” he added.

“While it is the President’s prerogative to appoint officials of his choosing, the public also has the right to know the reason behind such appointments. We do not believe that such a reorganization happens without a reason. Perhaps it is time to consider setting a fixed term for the LTO chief and the LTFRB board so they cannot be easily replaced at will,” the group said.