FIXERS: “Your time in prison will come!”

This was the message of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Officer-In-Charge (OIC) and, concurrently, Executive Director Atty. Romeo G. Vera Cruz as he announced the arrest of a team of online fixers Wednesday, July 6, 2022.

According to Vera Cruz, the LTO’s most recent operations, conducted jointly by the LTO Investigation and Intelligence Division (IID) led by former Department of Transportation (DOTr) Director for Investigation Service Renante Melitante, together with the Quezon City Diliman Anti-Cybercrime Team (QCDACT) headed by Lt. Michael E. Bernardo, resulted in the arrest of two individuals offering “non-appearance” renewal of motor vehicle registration transactions through online payment and meet-up.

The suspects were one male, a resident of Pleasant Hills Subdivision in Bulacan, and another male, a resident of Fairview, Quezon City.

Atty. Vera Cruz stated that during the LTO-QCDACT Joint Task Force operations, a task force member engaged the suspects’ services for non-appearance renewal of motor vehicle registration through the Facebook Messenger app.

After sealing the transaction, the fixer informed the agent that the motor vehicle was renewed and that the original receipt (OR) was ready for pick-up. This led to his apprehension.

During interrogation, the suspect revealed his cohort as the person who processed the transaction at the LTO Novaliches District Office, Quezon City, and eventually arrested the second suspect.

According to LTO-IID OIC Melitante, both suspects are now under the custody of the QCDACT for violations of Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code on deceit/swindling (estafa) and Republic Act (RA) No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery (EODB EGSD) Act of 2018, both in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012).

Melitante reported that the suspects will undergo inquest proceedings before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.

Atty. Vera Cruz advised LTO clients to transact directly with the agency and not with “unscrupulous” social media accounts and individuals for their own protection.

“To all LTO clients, please refrain from patronizing fixers for your protection. You may also be equally liable under the law,” he stressed.

Further, the LTO OIC warned individuals and employees not to engage in “fixing” activities as they will be dealt with under the full force of the law.

“The LTO will relentlessly operate against these spurious individuals in our effort to clean up the bureaucracy to protect our clients,” he vowed.