Land Transportation Office Chief Assistant Sec. Jose Arturo Tugade and Executive Director Giovanni Lopez hold a press conference at the LTO Central Office in Quezon City on March 29, 2023. INQUIRER.net / Faith Argosino
MANILA, Philippines —Five alleged fixers were apprehended on Wednesday after an operation by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Land Transportation Office (LTO) officials posing as applicants in front of the Novaliches District Office in Quezon City.
LTO Assistant Secretary Jose Arturo Tugade and Executive Director Giovanni Lopez said they disguised themselves as applicants to approach fixers in front of the agency’s office in Novaliches.
“Kami po ay nag-disguise nung araw na yon nais po namin makita first hand sa opisina batay sa complaint na natanggap namin tumambay kami sa opisina at talagang napakaraming fixer,” said Tugade in a media briefing at the LTO Central Office in Quezon City.
(We disguised ourselves as applicants to see the office firsthand based on the complaint we received. We stayed there and saw a lot of fixers in front of the office.)
He added that CIDG-Quezon City police personnel arrested the alleged fixers on March 28, in front of the LTO Novaliches District Office.
Tugade said the five accused will face complaints for violating Republic Act 9885 or the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007.
“Yung limang fixers po, ang chinarge po natin sa kanila is [The five fixers will be charged for their] violation of the anti-red tape act […] aside from the penalty of a fine, penalty of imprisonment if found guilty of the charges filed against them,” the LTO assistant chief said.
Apart from arresting the fixers, Tugade disclosed that the head of the agency’s Novaliches District Office was also suspended and relieved from his position to give way to LTO’s investigation.
“If he is found to be in connivance with the fixers, then the appropriate criminal cases will be filed against him,” he said.
The LTO assistant chief did not identify the accused or the agency’s Novaliches District Office head.
He also said that personnel of LTO offices should ban fixers from loitering within their areas.
Tugade also warned fixers and the agency’s employees conspiring with them to change their ways, for LTO has “zero tolerance” towards corruption.
RELATED STORIES:
LTO on heightened alert from March 31-April 10 for Holy Week, ‘summer’ vacation
LTO issues ban on fixers at all agency facilities