The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has ordered an investigation Friday into its 40 district offices over reports of illegal ownership transfer of motor vehicles seized in police operations.
LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said he will issue a notice to explain to the heads of concerned district offices on the confirmed intelligence reports of the alleged anomalous activity, which the Philippine National Police (PNP) described as technical carnapping.
Mendoza said he learned about such issue amid the continuous coordination of the LTO with the PNP to enforce traffic rules and run after individuals and groups engaged in illegal activities using motor vehicles.
A meeting with the PNP showed several LTO district offices had been involved in the unauthorized processing of cancellation of transfer of ownership and duplication of certificates of registration, he said.
The modus involved recovered vehicles being illegally transferred to new owners with new duplicate certificates of registration issued alongside proper documentation to simulate a valid transfer of ownership.
“We already informed Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon of this modus and his instruction is clear—to identify and ensure that airtight criminal and administrative charges will be filed against those involved in this illegal activity,” Mendoza said.
“We will not let this pass. We will not allow the LTO to be used in illegal activities such as this,” he added.
The administrative charges that come with dismissal penalties are misconduct under the Civil Service Commission and LTO Memorandum Circular No. MC-91-137 dated 6 June 1991, and for violation of the LTO Citizen Charter.
Based on the LTO data, 15 of the illegal transfer of ownership of motor vehicles seized in police operations occurred in Caraga, eight in the Zamboanga Peninsula, four each in Cagayan Valley and the Davao Region, two each in Ilocos Region, Central Luzon and Northern Mindanao, and one each in Calabarzon, Eastern Visayas, and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
The LTO chief said an initial investigation had identified the 40 vehicles involved.
“We will be issuing show cause orders against the new registered owners of these motor vehicles,” Mendoza said.
“We also assure the Filipino people that we will leave no stone unturned in this investigation. We have zero tolerance on illegal activities and we will make sure that all those involved are punished,” he added.
