Manufacturer of fake driver’s licenses, IDs nabbed

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The person behind the alleged production of fake Identification (ID) cards and driver’s licenses here was arrested in a follow-up operation in Bago City, Negros Occidental last Thursday, a few hours after the arrest of a couple who is believed to be fixers.

Police Major Ramel Sarona, head of Police Station 1, identified the suspect as Marlon Pandongan, 48, of Barangay Taloc.

Sarona said that Pandongan allegedly manufactured the fake IDs and licenses, while the couple was his alleged runners who were tasked to search for clients and transact with them.

Lorebelle Umbao, 43; and her live-in partner Jefferson Panisa, 33, both residents of Barangay Mansilingan here were first arrested by police and the

Land Transportation Office (LTO)-6 in an entrapment operation at the Central Public Market here Thursday.

The LTO-6 coordinated with the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), following reports of alleged production of fake driver’s licenses here.

The fake IDs were first seized from alleged fixers who were previously arrested in Iloilo in 2020.

Authorities confiscated from Pandongan a computer and other equipment used to produce falsified documents.

Police believed that Pandongan has been in the alleged racket for years now.

Sarona said that charges for violation of Republic Act 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, and falsification of public documents by a private individual were filed against the three suspects who are detained at Police Station 1.

Meanwhile, the LTO-6 urged the victims of these individuals to surface to verify the authenticity of their driver’s licenses and identification cards, and to press charges against them.

The LTO-6 also reminded the public that all transactions are supposed to be catered at their authorized offices.

The agency also noted that driver’s licenses are now laser engraved and not anymore laminated.