LTO-6 Cracks Down on Facebook Paluwagan License Fixer

By Gerome Dalipe IV

The Land Transportation Office in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental has issued a show cause order against a 35-year-old woman accused of promoting a “paluwagan” scheme on Facebook to expedite the issuance of student permits and nonprofessional driver’s licenses.

The woman allegedly posted fixed fees and minimal requirements for license applications, using an image of an LTO license and a photo taken outside an LTO office to appear legitimate.

LTO San Carlos District Chief Robbie F. Andutan and his team personally served the order on Monday morning.

“You are neither employed by LTO Region 6 nor authorized to conduct or facilitate such transactions on behalf of this agency,” the order reads.

It was reviewed and approved by LTO Region 6 Regional Director Atty. Gaudioso P. Geduspan II.

The woman has five calendar days from receipt of the order to submit a written explanation to the LTO Region 6 Intelligence and Investigation Unit in Quintin Salas, Jaro, Iloilo City.

“This initiative reflects our commitment to uphold road safety and reinforce that no one is above the law,” Andutan said.

Nationally, LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II is leading the campaign against fixers and fake transactions, with full support from Director Geduspan and Assistant Regional Director Jeck D. Conlu in Region 6.

Since the directive was issued, LTO Region 6 has ramped up intelligence-driven enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and coordination with other agencies to protect licensing services and the motoring public from unauthorized facilitators.