4 LTO fixers arrested in Cebu City
UNDERCOVER officers from the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on Friday arrested in an entrapment operation four suspected “fixers” at the Land Transportation Office in Cebu City, PNP-CIDG director Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee said.
Suspects Joseph Cualbar, 32; Raul Yuman, 52; Renato Cualbar, 47; and Mario Mangubat Jr., 40, were caught amid a complaint from the LTO Region 7 Office regarding the presence of “standby fixers/scammers” in their compound who are victimizing their clients.
The four were placed under arrest during the sting conducted by members of the CIDG Mandaue City Field Unit, with the help of officers from the Regional Intelligence Unit 7 and the Cebu City Police Office, inside the LTO office located on N. Bacalso Avenue in Cebu City around 2:45 p.m. on August 19.
Recovered from the four were the marked money and several LTO documents they were using in their modus.
The four were inquested for violation of the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office.
The PNP-CIDG director called on the public, specially those who are seeking clearances and other permits from the LTO, to only deal with its legitimate personnel and never transact with “fixer”’ at anytime.
“Never patronize and never give chance to those unscrupulous individuals or groups to use their illegal means to benefit or take advantage from you. The government is already taking measures to speed up and improve its public service, so patronizing fixers is no longer necessary,” Lee said.
