Just recently, elements from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Investigation and Intelligence Division (IID) led by former Department of Transportation (DOTr) Director for Investigation Service, Renante Melitante, together with the Quezon City-Diliman Anti-Cybercrime Team (QCDACT) headed by PLt. Michael Bernardo, resulted in the arrest of two individuals offering non-appearance renewal of motor vehicle registration transactions through online payment and meet-up.
According to LTO OIC, Atty. Romeo Vera Cruz, the suspects, a resident of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, while the other a resident of Fairview, Quezon City, were offering non-appearance services for vehicular registration renewal.
A member of the LTO-QCDACT Joint Task Force engaged their services through their social media post. After sealing the transaction via messenger and online payment, an entrapment operation immediately followed.
During the meetup/handover of the vehicle’s Original Receipt (OR), one of the suspects was arrested and during his interrogation, he led the authorities to the second suspect who processed the transaction at the LTO Novaliches District Office.
According to LTO-IID OIC Melitante, both suspects are now under the custody of the QCDACT for violations of Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code on deceit/swindling (estafa) and Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, both in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012).
Melitante reported that the suspects will undergo inquest proceedings before the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office.
Atty. Vera Cruz advised LTO clients to transact directly with the Agency and not with spurious social media accounts and individuals for their own protection.
“To all LTO clients, please refrain from patronizing fixers for your own protection. You may also be equally liable under the law,” he stressed.
Further, the LTO OIC warned individuals and employees not to engage in fixing activities as they will be dealt with under the full force of the law. “The LTO will relentlessly operate against these spurious individuals in our effort to clean up the bureaucracy to protect our clients,” Vera Cruz added.
