LTO-6 intensifies crackdown, seizes 39 colorum vans since January

By Gerome Dalipe

The Land Transportation Office–Western Visayas (LTO-6) has intensified its “all-out war” against illegal public transportation, achieving a major milestone with 39 colorum vans impounded across the region since January.

The crackdown, driven by the directive of LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Markus V. Lacanilao and Acting Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez, focuses on intelligence-driven sting operations aimed at sending illegal operators a clear and costly message.

The LTO-6 Regional Law Enforcement Section, under the command of Regional Director Atty. Gaudioso P. Geduspan II and Assistant Regional Director Jeck D. Conlu—who also serves as concurrent officer in charge of LTO Negros Island Region—successfully executed a major joint operation this week, resulting in the seizure of multiple colorum units.

The operation included a recent sting in Negros Occidental, where an undercover LTO agent boarded a suspect Toyota HiAce Commuter at the Barangay Bata North Terminal after an illegal dispatcher solicited passengers.

The agent confirmed that the driver was illegally collecting fares ranging from PHP 130 to PHP 200 for routes to Cadiz, Sagay, and Escalante cities.

The private van was intercepted shortly after departure, and the 48-year-old driver was issued a Temporary Operator’s Permit (TOP) for colorum operation and reckless driving, while the vehicle was immediately impounded at the LTO Mansilingan District Office.

The same operation also led to the seizure of four other colorum vans in Bago City and one more van nabbed near the Dumangas Port in Iloilo.

Separately, the LTO-6 Field Enforcement Unit, led by Jeru Germain D. Guzman, apprehended another colorum van in Leganes after an LTO decoy exposed its illegal operation between Pototan and Tagbak Terminal.

Director Geduspan stressed that these decisive actions are meant to prioritize public safety and protect the livelihood of legitimate operators.

The campaign is now reinforced by stricter national policies, including the filing of criminal charges against apprehended drivers.

Likewise, impounded colorum vehicles will no longer be released upon payment of fines; operators must now wait for a final court order before the vehicle can be disposed of.

Director Geduspan added that LTO-6 remains resolute in enforcing accountability, a stance strengthened by recent legal victories, including a Sept. 17 court conviction in Iloilo that resulted in a colorum operator being found guilty, with his vehicle seized and auctioned off.