Darimbang steps down with a heavy heart, says he’s clean

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

MANDANGAN Darimbang stepped down as regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) with a heavy heart on Wednesday, claiming that he left his office with a clean record and with no public transport group complaining about how he ran the office for nearly three decades.

Darimbang also reiterated that he he retired not because he was pressured to but because he wanted to.

“Murag gisudlan na pud ko delicadeza… Overstaying na ba,” said Darimbang, citing his 29 years as director of the LTFRB in northern Mindanao.

But he stressed that he was never involved in corruption in the LTFRB. “Kung tulisan pa ko, daghan na unta ko’y kaso sa Ombudsman,” he said on local radio.

Darimbang said there was no truth to claims that he chose retirement because of an investigation into the alleged corrupt activities in the LTFRB regional office.

“I filed for an early or compulsory retirement because I am already in my retirement age. Immediately after the synchronized May 2016 elections, gikapoy nako sa akong 29 years as regional director, and I already entertained the idea nga magetire na gyud ko,” Darimbang said.

The LTFRB and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Cagayan de Oro were mentioned by President Duterte when he spoke about complaints on graft and corruption in the city.

But Darimbang said neither his name nor the office of the LTFRB regional director was mentioned by Duterte.

Darimbang’s retirement was announced by LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra following a performance audit of the regional office last week. Delgra said Darimbang opted to retire.

The former LTFRB regional director said Delgra’s performance audit was part of the routine in the LTFRB and the continuous effort of the national government to check on regional offices.

“Wala sila mi-anhi kay gi-audit ko but it is a routine, an effort to check all field offices,” he said.

Darimbang said he did not even bother providing Delgra and other LTFRB officials with hotel accommodations to avoid suspicions of manipulation.

“Bisag usa ka biscuit wala nako sila gi-serve. Nag-dinner sila wala ko miuban para wala gyu’y influence,” Darimbang said.

He said he also chose not to take part in a meeting called by LTFRB officials with stakeholders in the public transport sector so that no one would feel intimidated.

“There was no complaint during the dialogue,” said Darimbang.

He said the complaints that reached Duterte came from people who were not from the public transport sector.

Darimbang said, “Kadtong mga nageklamo ni President Duterte walay hinanawan sa transport business. Puro lang kadto vested interests. Ang mabiktima sa corruption, kadtong mga operators and drivers. Pero wala man.”

He expressed dismay over media reports about his retirement, and said he has nothing to prove anymore.

“I have done my part as far as public service is concerned,” Darimbang said.