LTO promises to crack down on driver's license counterfeiters along Recto Avenue

The Land Transportation Office is set to make its move against counterfeiters of driver's licenses who ply their services on Manila's Recto Avenue. 

 

In a report on GMA's “24 Oras” on Friday, LTO spokesman Jason Salvador said he was surprised that the counterfeiters are still operating there even after multiple raids.


 

“This is very alarming. What we will do is we will immediately inform our law enforcement director so that he can coordinate with law enforcement agencies like [National Bureau of Investigation] and [Criminal Investigation and Detection Group]. We need to put a stop to this because a lot of people will be misled,” Salvador said.

 

Salvador said this after he was shown video footage by GMA News' Emil Sumangil showing an undercover agent successfully buying a fake license in Recto for P450.

 

In the report, seasoned LTO enforcers were able to distinguish between authentic and fake licenses.

 

They said that faked licenses are categorized as class A, B and C and had generally lighter colors. There was also no embossed design behind the card on the fake licenses.

 

The LTO is also checking on a license service in Iloilo that can be availed for P1500 via Facebook.

 

“We are investigating this. Malaman natin na may mga empleyadong involved dito hindi tayo mag aatubiling parusahan sila,” Salvador said.

 

The LTO admits that the increase in fake license services was probably caused by the slow process of releasing driver's licenses. It has blamed a problem with the supply of plastic material for the licenses for the delay.

 

Salvador said if the bidding process goes as planned then they might be able to smoothen out the problem in two months. — Andrei Medina/JDS, GMA News