6 Cebu LTO employees, 2 ‘fixers’ face raps for drivers’ license processing

CEBU CITY –– Eight people, mostly employees of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Cebu City, were charged for allegedly fast-tracking the issuance of a driver’s license in exchange for a fee of P7,500.

Six LTO-7 staff allegedly conspired with two other private individuals tagged as “fixers” as they allegedly victimize driver’s license applicants, said lawyer Wenceslao Galendez, leader of the NBI-7 arresting team.

The eight were arrested last Friday at the LTO satellite office inside the SM Seaside City mall at the South Road Properties in Cebu City.

NBI-7 Assistant Director Dominador Cimafranca said the suspects were charged for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and the Anti Red Tape Law. The offense is bailable.

Cimafranca said the operation stemmed from a complaint from the LTO Central Office in Manila.

The NBI conducted surveillance operations and later on allowed two poseur applicants to process a driver’s license at the LTO-7 satellite office at the J Center Mall in Mandaue City.

Later, the applicants were referred to another satellite office at the SM Seaside City Mall in Cebu City, where the actual processing took place before the arrest.

Among those arrested in the entrapment operations were administrative aides, cashiers, and job order employees of LTO-7.

They were Marilyn Erederos, Jonathan Magudato, Edpifanio Callino Jr., Charise Mae Cabigon, Gladys Barrio Mendero, and Dembert Dasig.

The two private individuals accused as fixers who approached the license applicants were identified as Fredlyn De Lara, and Dexter Capendit.

The arrested suspects were brought to the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office, who elevated the case to the proper Courts.

The suspects were detained at the NBI-7 detention facility in Cebu City.

LTO-7 legal officer Vicente Gador said the complainants of the case were LTO Executive Director Romeo Vera Cruz, and LTO-7 director Victor Caindec. /lzb