Tarlac Haciendera, Virginia "Virgie" Torres, Dies

Screen grab photo from a Casino CCTV

MANILA, Philippines – Former Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Virginia "Virgie" Torres died after suffering from cardiac arrest at a hospital in Pampanga, yesterday, Saturday, January 2.

She died at the age of 62.  Virgie Torres, a known "shooting buddy" of President Benigno Aquino III, was in public service for 33 years. She served in different positions at the LTO, starting as a cashier at the Tarlac LTO in December 1980.

She retired from government service in October 2013, after figuring in a viral video showing her playing in a casino.  A clear violation of Memorandum Circular No. 8 issued by Malacañang on August 28, 2001, which states that, "All government personnel concerned are prohibited from entering, staying and/or playing at gambling casinos."

 

Last year, her name resurfaced in the news after she allegedly asked Customs officials to release 64 containers of smuggled sugar worth over P100 million.

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