A WAR is brewing between the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Department of Energy (DOE) as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo tasked the latter to lead in the campaign against colorum vehicles and crooked policemen.

LTFRB chairman Thomson Lantion on Monday said the DOE should not be the lead agency in the twin drive and instead “focus on oil-related issues and leave the campaign against illegal vehicles to us.”

Malacañang earlier announced the creation of a task force against colorum vehicles and “kotong cops” to be headed by Energy Undersecretary Roy Kyamko, a retired Army general.

“We respect the position of the President. But we just want to point out that enforcement of traffic laws is inherent with the Department of Transportation and Communications. [Energy] Secretary [Angelo] Reyes should concentrate on resolving issues related to the skyrocketing fuel prices instead of blaming it on the colorum problem which is outside his jurisdiction,” Lantion said.

Reyes is a member of Philippine Military Academy class 1966 while Lantion and Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza belong to PMA Class 1969.

Reyes and Kyamko were with the Army while Mendoza and Lantion were National Police officials.

The President chose the DOE to handle the campaign against colorum vehicles because it is “an independent and neutral agency.”

Reyes recommended the formation of the task force to avert a fare hike amid skyrocketing fuel prices.

Lantion pointed out that the LTFRB itself has recently created its enforcement team to go after colorum public utility vehicles.

Malacañang announced that it has formed a task force that will go after colorum vehicles and extortionist [kotong] policemen as part of its initiatives to ease the burden of drivers, now suffering from the surge in oil prices.

The “anticolorum” and “anti-kotong” task force to be headed by Kyamko will be composed of the National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Transportation and Communications and other agencies that might be tapped by Reyes.

A WAR is brewing between the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Department of Energy (DOE) as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo tasked the latter to lead in the campaign against colorum vehicles and crooked policemen.

COMPUTERS at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) are malfunctioning resulting in inconvenience to thousands of motor-vehicle owners and drivers who have to renew registration and licenses not only in Metro Manila but in other parts of the country.

THE Court of Appeals (CA) has stopped a Regional Trial Court branch in Quezon City from implementing its December 19, 2006 decision ordering the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to reimburse two sugar importers the amount of P38.6 million representing the conversion fee they paid in 1999 for the importation of sugar which was made to address the anticipated shortage owing to El Niño and La Niña phenomena.

THE head of the Presidential Antigraft Commission (PAGC) graced on Monday the kick-off ceremony of the “anti-kotong” campaign of Director General Avelino Razon Jr., Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, who drew the line between the good cops and the bad cops.

THERE is no plot to oust Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. brewing in Malacañang, Chief Presidential Counsel Sergio Apostol said on Monday.

GEN. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Armed Forces chief of staff, said on Monday that he is weighing legal options against detained failed coup plotter and now opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV for accusing him of allegedly masterminding the Glorietta blast on October 19 that killed 11 people and injured more than 100.

A MILITANT group said on Monday that the Philippines should file a diplomatic protest against Taiwan for the abuse committed against nine Filipino fishermen despite their release and safe return, saying many other Filipinos may be suffering the same fate in the hands of their abusive employers.