Public urged to report abusive LTO-7 agents

The Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas (LTO-7) urged the public to report any abuses committed by its personnel and deputized agents.

The call came after the arrest of an LTO – deputized agent  Engilbert Caumeran, 36, who was accused of extorting P8,000 from a motorist he cited for  a traffic violation in Cebu City last Nov. 3.

“We will not tolerate any wrongdoing of any LTO officials or its deputies,” said LTO 7 Regional Director Raul Aguilos.

He said Caumeran, a former officer of the National Police Commission,  was immediately stripped of his authority as an LTO-7 deputized agent following his arrest.

“We follow a one-strike policy,” said Augilos, which means a single violence will mean dismissal.

Last Nov. 3, Caumeran confiscated the license of Antonio Barellano, who was apprehended  for drunk driving and driving a motorcycle with an expired registration at a checkpoint in Echavez Street.

Barellano sought help from the police after Caumeran demanded P8,000 from him in exchange for the release of his driver’s license and the  license plate of  his motorcycle.

Caumeran was arrested  Tuesday night in an entrapment operation in a gas station in V. Rama Avenue.

He denied the allegations against him.

Aguilos said the incident was an isolated case:  “He (Caumeran) was operating without authority from the group.”

Caumeran was a member of  Task Force Alpha, a non-government agency accredited by LTO to assist the agency in implementing traffic laws.

The task force, headed by its president Yolando Silibio, has 112 deputized agents of LTO-7.

Caumeran  became an LTO-7 deputized agent in July 26 after a one-year training conducted by the task force.

Aguilos said deputized agents should be accompanied by at least two organic members of LTO when conducting an operation.

Aside from robbery extortion,  the task force will file  separate charges  against Caumeran.