LTO warns public of fake deputized agents

By Nitz Arancon,

Correspondent 

Be on the lookout for impostors posing as Land Transportation Office (LTO 10) deputized agents, an LTO official warned, yesterday.

Land Transportation Office (LTO 10) Regional Director Hilarion Ulep issued the warning after LTO enforcers seized 10 fake identification cards (IDs) from 10 persons who posed as the office’s deputized agents.

Ulep told Gold Star Daily that the fake IDs looked legit since these had signatures of LTO Assistant Secretary Alfonso Tan, Virginia Tores, and LTO Bukidnon Chief Art Rangque. The confiscated IDs stated that the bearers were “deputized agent for Anti-Carnapping Task Force.”

“Fake itong mga ID nato, wala akong binigyan sa ganitong ID, kahit sa aking mga law enforcers,” Ulep said.

He added that Tan and Rangque told him that they have not issued such IDs for Northern Mindanao.

“Wala man kaming ganong trabaho, hindi trabaho namin ang pag-panghuli sa mgac arnap(ped) vehicle(s), kasi trabaho na yan sa Highway Patrol Group,” Ulep explained.

According to Ferdi-nand Flores, LTO 10 Adjudicator and Inspector, they were able to seize the fake IDs when they flagged down the fake deputized agents for traffic violations.

The suspects, Flores said, were flagged down in separate occassions in Barangay Mambatangan, ManoloFortich, Bukidnon province, Barangay Ta-blon, and along Xavier Estates, this city.

“Ingon sila, pareho rata taga gobyerno, taga LTO pud kami,” said Flores.

However, Flores was not convinced with the fake agents’ IDs so he decided to impound their vehicle and the motorcycles of the suspects.

“Dili man nahimo nga among silang i-detain, kay administrative ra man kining amo, so amo nalang gi-imbargo ang ilang fake IDs, gi-impound ang ilang mga vehicle ug gi-confiscate ang ilang mga drivers license,” said Floes.

Flores did not give the names of the impostors pending their filing of misrepresentation, usurpation, falsification of public documents, and forgery cases against the suspects.