Motorist who has never been to Iloilo questions violation record in province

A motorist who was renewing his driver's license discovered he had a record for motorcycle violation in Iloilo even if he never used a motorcyle and never visited the province.

In Sandra Aguinaldo’s report on “24 Oras”, motorist Leonyl Salvador said he had only known of his supposed traffic violation in 2018 after checking his account at the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) to renew his driver’s license.

“Pagtingin ko doon sa violation ko from Iloilo raw, Region 6. Never ako napunta sa Iloilo. At sabi pa doon, motor ang gamit ko. Eh never din ako nag-motor at hindi rin ako marunong mag-motor. Questionable po yung nangyari. Paano nangyari yun?” he said.

Salvador said the violation is due to the driver or his companion’s failure to wear a standard helmet. The fine for the violation is P1,500 and suspension of license for six months.

He initially reached out to LTO Region 6 to address the issue but did not receive a proper reply. This prompted him to coordinate with the LTO Law Enforcement Service to hopefully iron out his records.

“Tinawagan namin sila kahapon. Ang sabi sa 'kin brownout daw sa kanila so hindi nila makikita 'yung files. Kanina naman nung nagfollow-up kami, offline raw yung system nila. Noong hapon, nagfollow-up kami. Imi-meeting pa sa head nila. 'Yung process is sobrang haba tsaka walang nangyayari,” he said.

(We were calling them yesterday but they said there was a brownout so they cannot check the files. We then made a follow-up but they said their system is offline. We tried again this afternoon. This time they said they have to meet with their head first. The process is taking too long and it seems nothing is happening.)

Officials at the LTO Law Enforcement Service asked him if he had lost his license but Salvador showed them both his expired and current driver's license.

“Baka fake 'yung nai-present. Kasi kung yung mga issues na iba nahuhuli namin 'yan eh through biometrics. Kaya tatakbo yung reapplication. Pero pag biometrics, malaman na hindi siya yun,” LTO Law Enforcement Service Deputy Director Roberto Valera said.

(Maybe the presented license was fake. Because we were able to record other issues through biometrics. His reapplication will still push through if they checked with the biometrics because authorities there will know that it wasn’t him.)

“Yung mga fake license kasi may nakasuhan na kami diyan,” he added.

(We already filed charges against those individuals we caught presenting fake licenses.)

The LTO will investigate the issue, especially because traffic enforcers and local LTO offices can detect fake licenses. They will also go after the motorist who presented the fraudulent document.

“Sasabihan namin si Field Office na yung sasakyan i-maintain yung alarm and then, puwede sila mag-conduct ng independent investigation on their part for imitation and false representation,” said Marvin Rogero of the LTO Intelligence and Investigation Division Special Investigation 2.

(We will inform the Field Office and tell them to maintain the alarm on the vehicle. They can conduct their independent investigation for imitation and false representation.)

Once settled, the LTO said Salvador’s record in Iloilo may be revoked and this would help him renew his license. —Sundy Locus/BAP/KG, GMA News