LTO-6 suspends employee for tampering with traffic documents

By Gerome Dalipe

The Land Transportation Office in Western Visayas has suspended an employee for one year without pay after finding substantial evidence of tampering with official traffic enforcement documents.

Regional Director Atty. Gaudioso “Didoy” Geduspan II approved the penalty, imposed by the Regional Administrative Action Board (RAAB), after the employee — then serving as a law enforcer — was found to have altered entries in two Temporary Operator’s Permits (TOPs) issued to motorists apprehended for driving unregistered vehicles in Leganes, Iloilo, in November 2023.

The case is the fourth sanction involving fixing-related or integrity violations under Geduspan’s leadership.

Irregularities surfaced when an LTO-6 evaluator reviewed the employee’s daily apprehension report dated Nov. 22, 2023, and noticed discrepancies in the recorded apprehension times on two TOPs showing visible alterations.

The employee did not deny the allegations.

In his written explanation, he admitted that two drivers cited for driving unregistered vehicles had approached him for assistance, and that he decided to “help out” by modifying the permits.

He claimed his actions were driven by compassion rather than malicious intent, saying he merely “pitied” the motorists involved.

The RAAB ruled the explanation did not excuse the misconduct.

The latest suspension adds to a growing list of disciplinary actions under Geduspan’s administration.

A regular plantilla employee was earlier dismissed for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and violations of the Ease of Doing Business Act, while two job-order personnel caught facilitating illegal transactions for motorists were also removed from service.

Three employees have faced criminal prosecution, while four others were separately charged before the Civil Service Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman.

The LTO-6 Legal Office has also pursued 96 criminal cases through parallel anti-fixing operations, with 18 already resulting in convictions.

Geduspan said the suspension reflects the agency’s broader campaign to restore public trust and institutional credibility by enforcing accountability within its own ranks.

“We cannot demand discipline from the public if we fail to impose it within our own ranks,” Geduspan said.