DOTr Lauds LTO’s Campaign Against “Fake Plates”

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade lauded today the ongoing campaign of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) against the manufacture, distribution and selling of counterfeit license plates.

“We are not tolerating these acts. Whoever they are, they should be held criminally liable. Pag gumawa kayo ng kalokohang labag sa batas, batas din ang uusig sa inyo,” Secretary Tugade said.

On Wednesday, a joint operation was conducted by the Quezon City Police District—District Special Operations Unit (QCPD-DSOU), the Philippine National Police Anti-Carnapping Unit (PNP-ANCAR), and the LTO-National Capital Region (LTO-NCR) in the residence of couple Jahaziel Alcantara (32 years old) and Kristine Nemenzo (22 years old) in Sitio Veterans, Brgy. Bagong Silangan in Quezon City.

Prior to the operation, authorities conducted a test buy operation on 22 June 2017 after receiving earlier reports of the couple’s alleged illegal activities. A search warrant was secured on 03 July 2017 from QC RTC Branch 78.

Recovered and seized from the site were twenty-six (26) Motor Vehicle Number Plates, three (3) Motorcycle Plates, twenty-five (25) Metal Sheets, cold laminated board, a laptop, a pressing manual machine, a logbook and receipts of transactions.

The couple will face charges for violations of Presidential Decree 1730 (Syndicated printing, manufacture, distribution or use of fake LTO documents and plates) and Article 2, Section 31 of Republic Act 4136 or the “Land Transportation and Traffic Code”

“While we are trying to address the current backlog in the production and distribution of license plates, we are also serious in apprehending elements who illegally produce, distribute and use fake plates,” LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante stressed.

The LTO stressed its commitment to normalize the process in the production and distribution of license plates. The current backlog has been identified to be at least a million vehicle plates. Plates with additional security features were bid out and are targeted for issuance by September this year.

Also, the LTO is currently embarking on its proposal to locally produce plates in order to expedite production time and avoid shortages in the future.