4 LTO ‘fixers’ fall in Cebu City
UNDERCOVER officers from the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) have arrested four suspected “fixers” at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Cebu City during an entrapment operation on Friday last week, PNP-CIDG Director Brigadier General Ronald O. Lee said.
According to the official, the suspects were arrested amid a complaint from the LTO Region 7 Office regarding the presence of so-called “standby fixers” or alleged “scammers” in their compound who are victimizing their clients.
The four were placed under arrest during the entrapment operation 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 along N. Bacalso Avenue in Cebu City around 2:45 p.m. last August 19.
Lee said that recovered from the possession of the four were the marked money and several LTO documents they reportedly were using in their modus operandi.
The official said the four would face charges for violating the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office on Monday.
The PNP-CIDG director called on the public, especially those who are seeking clearances and other permits from the LTO, to only deal with its legitimate personnel and never transact with “fixers” at any time.
“Never patronize and never give a chance to those unscrupulous individuals or groups to use their illegal means to benefit or take advantage of you. The government is already taking measures to speed up and improve its public service, so patronizing ‘fixers’ is no longer necessary,” Lee said.
