Backlogs aren’t the only problems the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has about its license plates—it looks like some of the agency’s employees are stealing from the LTO’s Plate Making Plant in Quezon City.
Last week, the agency reported that three personnel were arrested after they were caught stealing new license plates. They were identified as embossers Jenard Arida and Arjay Anasco and warehouse staff Valeriano Labayno. All three work at the plant at the LTO Central Office in QC.
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The stolen license plates were being sold at P10,000 per piece. The LTO said that these plates are part of a grand scheme involving brand-new vehicles purchased through financing. The M.O. involves illegal sales of vehicles using these duplicated and stolen plates and fake registration documents. It’s what the LTO calls ‘technical carnapping.’
The agency, together with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), plans to conduct further investigations regarding the matter. A certain Allan Joker Abrigo was named as a ‘team leader’ and a possible boss of the three suspects.
“Gaya ng ipinangako natin sa taumbayan, we will not tolerate this kind of illegal activity and we will make sure that those who would dare to continue with their wrongdoings will be caught and held responsible. The arrest of these three people is proof of that,” said LTO chief Vigor Mendoza. “In coordination with the DILG and the Philippine National Police, we are now conducting [an] investigation [into] all those involved in this modus to determine if they are part of any criminal syndicate.”
For his part, DILG chief Benjamin Abalos is reminding the public to be vigilant when buying brand-new vehicles. “Ito’y babala sa lahat ng bibili (ng sasakyan), huwag kayong umasa sa pakita lamang ng plaka. I-check niyo muna sa LTO kung may laman ang QR code ng mga ito,” he said.
