LTO 11 catches 1,134 traffic violators, impounds 217 vehicles during Undas operations

The Land Transportation Office in Davao Region (LTO 11) apprehended 1,134 traffic violators and impounded 217 motor vehicles during its road safety operations for Undas 2026, according to Edge Davao.

LTO 11 Regional Director Atty. Ernesto Raphael Robillo presented the figures at a media forum on Wednesday. He said the agency ran Oplan Biyaheng Ayos from October 23 to November 2, with daily operations from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., to keep motorists and passengers safe during All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Enforcement covered bus and van terminals, roadside inspections and checkpoints across the region.

Of the 2,438 motor vehicles inspected, 54 failed. Robillo said 224 apprehensions involved unregistered or delinquent vehicles, even though registration periods had been extended. Another 223 motorists were caught violating the Seat Belts Use Act, 145 drivers had no license or an invalid one, and 87 were flagged for reckless driving such as swerving and beating the red light.

The agency also caught 60 motorists using fake license plates or unauthorized improvised temporary plates. Robillo said cracking down on such plates remains a priority to ensure vehicles comply with registration and identification rules. Twelve cases involved colorum, or illegally operating, public utility vehicles.

LTO 11 impounded 54 vehicles it deemed unfit and unsafe for travel, while 32 were cited for defective parts such as broken windshields, damaged accessories and non-working lights. Some of the vehicles inspected were buses and vans. A further 690 apprehensions were for other offenses, most commonly under the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, the Motorcycle Helmet Act, and overspeeding.

Random drug tests were conducted on 203 public utility vehicle drivers and conductors at terminals in Digos City, Tagum City and G-Mall, and all tested negative. Robillo noted this was an improvement from last year, when several drivers and conductors tested positive for illegal drugs. All 11 people given alcohol breath tests also passed.

Robillo described the results as a good sign and said the goal was to make sure public utility vehicles and their drivers are safe, especially when passenger volumes rise. He said the stepped-up enforcement is part of the agency's continuing push for road safety and compliance with traffic laws.