Fake LTO license operation busted in Bacolod

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The Land Transportation Office-Negros Island Region arrested two people in an entrapment operation targeting alleged fixers involved in issuing and printing fake driver’s licenses at a downtown shop Friday.

LTO-NIR Director Jeck Conlu said a woman in her 20s was allegedly caught printing fake driver’s licenses, while her male companion, who is in his 40s, reportedly offered the services to clients.

Conlu said the agency launched the operation after intelligence gathering and the confiscation of fake driver’s licenses during road safety inspections over the past two months.

The shop was believed to have operated for years, he said.

The suspects appeared familiar with LTO procedures and had equipment used to carry out the transactions, Conlu added.

He said the suspects offered services costing from PHP 3,000 to PHP 10,000, depending on their clients’ needs.

Authorities also discovered fake government documents other than driver’s licenses and motor vehicle registration renewal papers being produced at the shop, Conlu said.

Monitoring is continuing because authorities believe other people may be involved in similar operations, he said.

“This is not the last. This is just the first,” Conlu said as he warned people engaged in illegal operations to stop because authorities would pursue them.

Conlu said some people might be enticed to deal with fixers because they want a more convenient process.

He reminded the public to transact only through authorized LTO channels and warned against people offering fraudulent licenses or unauthorized assistance in exchange for payment.

Conlu said there are no shortcuts to becoming a legitimate, responsible and disciplined driver. Applicants must follow legal procedures and use authorized transactions, he added.

The fake licenses recovered during the operation will be assessed, Conlu said.

Motorists caught using them during road safety inspections will be blacklisted, he added.

The two suspects were detained at Police Station 1 pending the filing of charges related to anti-fixing laws and the production of fake government documents.

Under the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, fixing or colluding with fixers is punishable by one to six years in prison and a fine ranging from PHP 500,000 to PHP 2,000,000. The law defines a fixer as someone who expedites government transactions for financial gain or another advantage.

Conlu thanked the Bacolod City Police Office for supporting the operation.

The operation was part of the agency’s intensified campaign against illegal activities that undermine the integrity of the licensing system and put road safety at risk.