DASMARIÑAS CITY-Two individuals were apprehended in an entrapment operation at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) District Office in Dasmariñas City:wo individuals were apprehended in an entrapment operation at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) District Office in Dasmariñas City, Cavite, for their involvement in illegal activities aimed at circumventing the official driver’s license application process.
According to Philippines News Agency, the LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, has taken immediate action following the arrests, demanding an explanation from the Dasmariñas office district head regarding the incident that occurred on Monday. Mendoza emphasized the severity of the offense, stating, “These people will suffer the consequences of their illegal money-making activities. We will help the police in pursuing the appropriate criminal charges against them to teach them a lesson.”
The two arrested individuals were identified as Juan Miguel Crisostomo, 21, from Imus, Cavite, and Carlito
Cambronero Jr., 40, from Tagkawayan, Quezon. The arrests were made by operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group following a complaint by a 19-year-old motorist. The complainant reported that one of the suspects offered to expedite his application for a driver’s license for PHP8,500 without the need for personal appearance, a practice strictly prohibited by the LTO.
Assistant Secretary Mendoza reiterated that the LTO does not allow non-appearance transactions and highlighted the improvements in processing speed due to the agency’s digitalization efforts. He stated, “Wala pong non-appearance transaction sa LTO at hindi na po kailangan yun dahil mabilis na ang ating proseso dahil sa ating digitalization program (There are no non-appearance transactions at LTO because it’s unnecessary due to the speed of processing through our digitalization program).”
The suspects are currently detained at the LTO Cavite field office and are facing charges under Republic Act 11032, the Ease of Doing Busine
ss and Efficient Delivery of Government Services Act, in relation to Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code, or Usurpation of Official Function.