LTO vows to intensify crackdown on inter-island colorum vehicles

Vigor Mendoza — INQUIRER file photo / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines—Staying committed to its anti-colorum drive, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Wednesday vowed to intensify its efforts to combat “inter-island” travels by unauthorized vehicles.

READ: LTO warns colorum operators: We will ‘drag’ you to court  

LTO Chief Assistant Atty. Vigor Mendoza II made the vow following the Bagong Pilipinas Town Hall Meeting with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in San Juan City.

“[T]he LTO intends to double time its efforts and widen its net by coordinating efforts with the Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, and Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation,” said Mendoza.

Moreover, Mendoza said it will strengthen its coordination with port authorities to ensure that colorum vehicles cannot travel inter-island, especially using roll-on, roll-off vessels.

“We will shut the doors in the various ports to prevent colorum motor vehicles from traveling from Visayas to Metro Manila. We will also hit them at the terminals and expressways. We will control key junctions in key cities to prevent them from plying,” said Mendoza.

READ: More impounding areas ready for ‘colorum’ PUVs

He added that “coordination meetings” will also be conducted with PNP and PCG to prepare “criminal charges” against colorum vehicles and their operators.

Mendoza said that the penalty for operating a colorum vehicle is imprisonment of up to six years and a fine of up to P2 million.