Authorities arrested two alleged fixers and two contacts from establishments offering Land Transportation Office (LTO) - related services.

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation- Southeastern Mindanao Regional Office (NBI-SEMRO) launched an entrapment operation after conducting surveillance targeting suspected fixers outside the LTO-Davao (LTO-11) office.

A similar operation was also carried out at two establishments – a driving school and a medical laboratory.

“‘Yung mode before the arrest is may mga fixers na lalapit sa clients and then they will bring it to different establishments na ang services ay related sa LTO registration,” NBI-SEMRO Assistant Director, Gerald Intes, said.

The operation stemmed from a request by the LTO-11 director to crack down on fixers involved in services such as driver’s license applications, vehicle registration, renewals, and other transactions.

Authorities are also looking into possible connections of the suspects within the LTO-11.

“We’re very quite sure meron. For warn sa LTO na utos na ng director yan. Pag hindi sila mag-cooperate sa director nila sa cleansing na mangyayari, andun ang NBI,” Intes added.

NBI-SEMRO said the illegal activity has been ongoing for quite some time, prompting them to also monitor employees who may be involved.

“Walang exempted dito, kahit nga si director sabi niya kung may kasalanan ang buong opisina ko, edi trabahuin na ng NBI. Pwede nating sabihin na warning narin sa loob ng LTO, tinarbaho na nga ng NBI sa labas, huwag niyo hintaying papasok kami sa loob, magkahiyaan tayo,” Intes said.

LTO-11 Director, Atty. Ernesto Robillo, urged those possibly involved to stop, and emphasized the need to ensure honest public service.

“Kung meron man, paalala lang po sa kanila, huwag na nilang hintayin na madamay pa sila para ma-ensure natin na tapat ang panenerbisyo natin sa publiko,” Robillo said.

One of the individuals arrested denied any connection to fixers.

“Ang kining fixer nagsulod didto, nagdala og kliyente. Wala man ko kabalo kung unsa kay basta ang musulod sa amoa magpa-medical, gina-cater namo. Tapos syempre kuhaon nako ang bayad kay naa may juy bayad ang sa medical so mao na sya nakadawat ko og kwarta. Pero ang akong gidawat nga kwarta kay bayad sa medical nga P500,” one of the arrested suspects, alias “Jenny,” said.

The suspects will face charges for violation of the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 (RA 11032).