The Department of Transportation on Wednesday named lawyer Hector Villacorta as the officer-in-charge of the Land Transportation Office.
In a public briefing on Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista confirmed the designation of Villacorta as the replacement of LTO chief Jay Art Tugade, whose resignation takes effect today (June 1).
“Asec. Villacorta will be the LTO OIC while waiting for the permanent appointment (of the agency’s chief) by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” said Bautista.
Villacorta is the DoTr’s current Assistant Secretary for Communications and Commuter Affairs, and will continue as such even while heading the LTO, Bautista said.
Villacorta was also a former secretary at the Commission on Appointments and the former Chief of Staff of Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
Tugade tendered his resignation last May 22, citing differences with Bautista and wishing to give the Transportation chief a free hand at the LTO.
“I am very sorry that we will not be working together, I wish we can work together in the future,” Bautista said of the son of former DoTr chief Arturo Tugade.
“It was your decision to leave LTO, and I respect your decision,” he added.
Tugade’s time at the LTO was marred by controversies, including the shortage of driver’s license cards and the printing of license receipts.
