3 Alleged LTO Fixers Arrested in Manila, Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP CIDG) on Friday said it arrested three alleged Land Transportation Office (LTO) fixers in Manila and Quezon City. The suspects were caught in entrapment operations last Monday following a complaint endorsed by the Anti-Red Tape Authority, CIDG public information chief Maj. Helen dela Cruz told reporters in an interview in Camp Crame. Two of the suspects, identified only by the aliases “Kim” and “Sam,” were caught near the LTO office in España, Manila, according to dela Cruz. “[They] allegedly [facilitated] and [processed] students permits not in accordance with the standard fees and period prescribed by the LTO,” the CIDG public information chief said. “The agency’s regular processing period for a student permit is three days and the processing fee is only P850, while the suspects fixing the student permit will be out in just a day for a P3,500 fee,” she added. Meanwhile, later on Monday, near the LTO main office in Diliman, Quezon City, CIDG operatives arrested a man with the alias “Jer.” “[He] allegedly [facilitated] and [processed] a driver’s license to be released in one day because of alleged connections in the LTO for an overpriced processing fee of P7,500,” dela Cruz explained. “The agency’s standard processing period for a license is three days for a P1,600 fee,” she added. All three suspects were taken into the custody of the CIDG Anti-Organized Crime Unit, awaiting charges for violating Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service.