BCPO seeks LTO verification of ‘fugitive’s’ driver’s license

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has requested the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Bacolod to verify the authenticity of a driver’s license issued to an Indian fugitive posing as a Filipino national.

In a letter dated July 11, addressed to Joseph Danoy, Chief Licensing Center of LTO Negros Occidental, Police Lieutenant Colonel Joery Puerto, head of the City Investigation and Detection Management Unit (CIDMU), asked the LTO to confirm if the driver’s license of “Kanta Gupta” was duly issued by their office.

Gupta’s driver’s license states he is a Filipino with an address at City Heights Subdivision, Barangay Taculing, Bacolod City. The license expires on November 7, 2026.

Puerto noted that their query is part of an investigation conducted by the BCPO regarding the potential use of a fraudulent driver’s license.

“This is in the interest of upholding the integrity of official documents and ensuring public safety,” Puerto emphasized.

On July 8, 40-year-old Joginder Geong, alias “Joginder Geyong,” who was also using the fake name “Kant Gupta,” with a fraudulent Nepalese passport, was arrested in his rented house in Barangay Taculing after two years of hiding in the Philippines.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) issued a mission order for Geong’s arrest for violating the Philippine Immigration Law, Commonwealth Act No. 613, as an undesirable alien.

The suspect had been residing in Bacolod since 2022 and had opened a small business. According to a police report, the suspect is an alleged notorious criminal with a history of serious offenses such as murder, attempted murder, extortion, and robbery in India.

He also allegedly led an organized crime syndicate and has been sentenced to life imprisonment for violating arms laws in India, according to the police.

There were also allegations linking him to a terrorist group, but the local police have no details about these allegations.

Police Colonel Noel Aliño, BCPO director, confirmed that their letter had been received by Danoy.

“The question is whether Gupta’s driver’s license is fake or not,” Aliño asked.

If it is genuine, Aliño questioned how Gupta was able to acquire such a license.

“How do they obtain such licenses? What documents or requirements do they submit? Are the submitted requirements also fake?” he asked.

“If his driver’s license is genuine, it means our government agency has been fooled again, and someone has committed another wrongdoing,” Aliño stated.

Aliño said he is awaiting the LTO’s response.