THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7 and the Jagna Police Station of the Bohol Provincial Police Office recently entrapped and arrested two individuals selling fake driver's licenses in Bohol.
The two offices apprehended Maximo Galagar Jr., 59, and Alfredo Cogotano, legal age, both from Jagna, Bohol.
The joint entrapment operation took place on July 19, 2021 after two victims appeared at the Jagna Police Station to file a complaint against the suspects for the counterfeit licenses.
“These suspects had assured the complainants that they know somebody from LTO and that they will be the ones to process their licenses for them,” said LTO 7 Director Victor Emmanuel Caindec.
After getting hold of the alleged fake licenses, the complainant, with Jagna Police Chief Police Major Andie Corpus and Deputy Chief Police Lieutenant Marvin Chin, went to LTO Jagna District Office - Garcia Hernandez.
The LTO office confirmed that the licenses were fake.
"Our suspects asked for P7,000 from their customers, no other requirements. We are also looking into their connections so that we can arrest them, too,” Caindec said.
He said that rates of illegal licenses range from P12,000 to P15,000. He also said that in Bohol, there have been more than 100 victims in the past few months.
"With the opening of New License Issuance facility in Garcia Hernandez and Talibon LTO offices complemented by the LTO Malasakit Outreach program in Bohol giving out scholarships for Theoretical Driving Course, we hope that the perceived difficulties of getting a valid driver's license will be cleared. Misconceptions lure victims to no-appearance fixers,” said Caindec.
The suspects will be charged with estafa, falsification of public documents, and other cases based on the police filing at the Fiscal's office.
Caindec also warned the public that driving with a fake license is subject to a P3,000 fine with a 12-month suspension of the driver's license under Republic Act No. 4136. (PR)