Court Convicts 3 in Landmark LTO Fixing Case

In a major legal victory for the Land Transportation Office, the Municipal Trial Court in Cities in Iloilo City has convicted three individuals in a landmark case involving the falsification of a Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) certificate.

In a 13-page decision dated May 23, Judge Enrique Trespeces of MTCC Branch 10 found former Triple M Driving School employees Maricel Debuno Garino and Ma. Kristina Berbulla Daanoy, along with instructor Juffrey Doctolero Fuertes, guilty of falsifying a private document under Article 172(2) in relation to Article 171(4) of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 10951.

Each was sentenced to up to three years in prison and fined PHP3,000.

Prosecutors said the three conspired on Dec. 14, 2022, to issue a fake TDC certificate to applicant James Galve, falsely indicating he had completed the 15-hour course required for a student driver’s permit.

Galve testified that Garino approached him outside the LTO Region 6 office and offered to bypass the course for PHP2,000, directing him to Triple M Driving School.

He later discovered the TDC course was free and reported the incident to then Assistant Regional Director Atty. Gaudioso Geduspan II, prompting an entrapment operation that led to the trio’s arrest and the school’s immediate closure.

During the trial, all three pleaded not guilty.

Garino denied ties to the school, claiming she was simply in the area.

Daanoy admitted to handling administrative tasks but said she believed Galve would eventually complete the course.

Fuertes, a driving instructor, denied involvement in the issuance of the certificate.

Judge Trespeces rejected these claims, citing their clearly coordinated roles.

“Garino lured the applicant, Daanoy prepared the paperwork and received the payment, and Fuertes finalized the certificate,” the judge said.

“Each performed specific acts with such precise coordination, showing a common design to commit the offense.”

The court upheld the entrapment operation as legally sound and gave weight to documentary evidence, including the falsified certificate and payment records.

LTO Region 6 Director Atty. Gaudioso P. Geduspan II welcomed the ruling, calling it a critical step in curbing fraud.

“This conviction sends a strong message that the LTO will not tolerate any breach of procedures by accredited driving schools,” he said.

The case supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to reform the licensing system and enhance road safety.

Assistant Regional Director Jeck D. Conlu reaffirmed the agency’s One Strike Policy, which mandates immediate suspension or revocation of accreditation for erring schools.

LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said more than 100 driving schools have recently been suspended for violations, including issuing “no-show” certificates.

Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon warned online scammers and license fixers of intensified crackdowns.

“The sale of counterfeit licenses to unqualified individuals poses a significant threat to public safety,” Dizon said.

As of this month, LTO Region 6 has recorded 23 arrests and 19 convictions related to document falsification.

“This decision strengthens our resolve to weed out unscrupulous actors and protect the integrity of our systems,” Geduspan added.