Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief, Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II, lauded the recent conviction of three individuals arrested in 2022 for falsifying driving certificates in Jaro, Iloilo City.
According to Asec. Mendoza, the conviction of two women and one man is a direct result of the agency’s intensified campaign against fixers and others engaged in illegal activities that exploit LTO processes.
“This is part of a continuous operation in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and DOTr Secretary Vince B. Dizon to ensure that only qualified individuals are granted the privilege to drive,” said Mendoza.
In a 12-page decision, Branch 10 of the Municipal Trial Court in Iloilo City sentenced the three accused to six months to three years imprisonment and fined them P3,000 each for falsification of public documents.
Court records showed that the case began when a student driver visited the LTO office in Iloilo City to inquire about licensing requirements. One of the accused approached him and offered to bypass the mandatory Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) for P2,000.
The applicant promptly informed the LTO security guard, who then advised him to report the incident to the Acting Regional Director of LTO Western Visayas. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the three suspects while they were producing a falsified TDC certificate.
Mendoza reminded the public, especially LTO applicants, to avoid dealing with fixers, warning that aside from financial loss, those who submit fake documents may face legal consequences.
“The process is now easier, and in most cases, the TDC is provided for free by the LTO. There is absolutely no reason to negotiate with fixers,” he emphasized.