LTO-6 ends 2025 with crackdown on fixers, violators

By Gerome Dalipe

Western Visayas’ Land Transportation Office (LTO-6) is closing out 2025 not with bureaucratic rhetoric but with hard numbers, arrests, and a relentless crackdown on corruption.

At the Regional Directors’ Conference in Cebu City yesterday, LTO-6 Regional Director Atty. Gaudioso P. Geduspan II declared that the region didn’t just support LTO Chief Asec. Markus V. Lacanilao’s seven priority programs—he delivered on them.

From January to November 2025, LTO-6 doubled down on the Zero Corruption / No-Appearance Policy, resulting in unprecedented accountability.

LTO-6 arrested and prosecuted 26 fixers, filed nearly 100 related cases, and secured 18 convictions.

Accountability was also strictly enforced internally.

A job-order employee was terminated for interfering with law enforcement, while another regular employee was placed under a three-month preventive suspension pending investigation for grave misconduct, dishonesty, and violation of the Ease of Doing Business Act.

Three employees were prosecuted, and four others faced formal complaints before the Civil Service Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman.

The anti-corruption drive was matched by an aggressive presence on the road.

LTO-6’s law enforcement efforts led to a 56.55% increase in total apprehensions compared to the previous year, recording 41,848 citations from January to November 2025.

Of these, 21,946 motorists were cited for core traffic offenses, including driving without a license, operating unregistered vehicles, and reckless driving.

Strict enforcement of safety laws led to 9,861 violations of the Seatbelt Law (Republic Act 8750) and 4,296 violations of the Motorcycle Helmet Law (Republic Act 10054).

On the legal front, LTO-6’s Intelligence and Investigation Unit issued 356 show cause orders, 149 of which have been resolved.

These included 40 recommendations for license revocation and 11 for suspension.

Another 59 cases were forwarded for alarm-tagging by the Operations Division, and 16 motorists were recommended for outright disqualification from securing driver’s licenses.

LTO-6’s stronger enforcement stance is gaining attention even among its toughest critics.

Retired Col. Bonifacio Laqui Bosita, chairman of the Road Safety Advocates of the Philippines and a longtime critic of the LTO, offered rare public praise for the regional office.

“Mapalad po ang mga motorista dito sa Region 6,” Bosita said, commending Director Geduspan and Assistant Regional Director Jeck D. Conlu for delivering on their promises—from going after fixers to disciplining erring personnel.

Geduspan also unveiled a 2026 roadmap for LTO-6 focused on balancing compliance with improved public service.

Priority actions include intensified roadside operations, stronger joint enforcement with local government units and partner agencies, and the rollout of modern enforcement tools such as body cameras and breath analyzers.

Beyond enforcement, Geduspan emphasized continued monthly information drives, expanded road safety education in schools and workplaces, community outreach, and strengthened anti-fixing and Gender and Development initiatives to ensure transparency and inclusivity in LTO-6 operations.