LTO 11 seizes 300 driver's licenses that were improperly processed

The chief of the LTO 11's Law Enforcement Division, Thomas Edward Roales, revealed that they had confiscated 300 illegally processed driver's licenses in Davao Region and recommended revocation.

Roales said these fake licenses, which were obtained from neighboring regions, were acquired even not showing to the issuing region and without accomplishing the requirements such as biometrics, proof of passing the practical driving course, seminar, and medical certificates.

“Ang problema man gud is mukuha sila and illegally processed from other regions and naay mu reklamo sa amoa. Isa pud diara, kung maparahan ka namo with violations or wala as we are authorized na mupara ug mu-check ug makit-an namo dili ka Davao resident ug dili gikuha sa Davao ang license kay makita man na sa license code kung asa dapita, isa na siya ug probable cause na siya ug puwede na namo siya i-hold on the grounds of verifying,” Roales said on Wednesday.

According to Roales, the system detects license holders' attachments and biometrics, and if a requirement is missing, the LTO will automatically file for revocation, with the director of the issuing region having the authority to revoke the license.

“Ipapadala naming sa region kung saan kinuha yung license at ipapa-revoke namin. These 300 cases na hold namo mga licenses kasi pina-process pa ang kaso until such time na makahatag sila ug judgment like tanggalan ba nila or revocation,” Roales said.

Holders of these forged licenses may face charges under the Anti-Red Tape Authority, or ARTA, and the Republic Act 10930, which seeks to rationalize and strengthen driver's license policies by extending the validity period of licenses and penalizing acts in violation of their issuance and application.

Roales believes that the long procedure in Davao Region is one of the reasons why many people prefer to get a driver's license in other regions.

“We are just following the ARTA and regular process. We don’t know nganong ma-short cut sa ubang regions. Kung unsa makita namo na mali within sa atoang region dakpon nato ug I try namo i- correct,” he said.

He also stated that more people are obtaining licenses in other regions because it is now easier to send details via messenger and payment in Gcash.