ILOILO City – Boosting the government’s crackdown on fraudulent licensing, a court here has convicted three individuals — including two former employees of an accredited driving school — for falsifying Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) certificates used in driver’s license applications.
The Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) handed down the decision after finding the accused guilty of manufacturing fake TDC certificates in 2022, a violation uncovered through verification checks by the Land Transportation Office Region (LTO) Region 6.
The ruling marks one of the first court convictions in Western Visayas under LTO’s intensified drive to purge irregularities in the driver licensing system.
“This conviction sends a strong message that the LTO will not tolerate any breach of procedures by accredited driving schools,” said LTO-6 director Atty. Gaudioso P. Geduspan II.
“It aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to overhaul and fortify the driver’s licensing system, ensuring that only fit and responsible individuals are allowed on the road,” he stressed.
The LTO considers the conviction not just a legal triumph but a policy milestone, as the falsification of TDC certificates directly undermines national road safety measures.
The TDC certificate is a mandatory prerequisite for license applicants to prove they have undergone theoretical instruction on traffic rules and road safety.
LTO-6 assistant regional director Jeck Conlu underscored the agency’s firm stance on violations, highlighting the implementation of the One Strike Policy.
“This means the immediate suspension or even permanent revocation of a driving school’s accreditation if proven to have committed violations,” Conlu said.
“We are committed to protecting the public from unqualified drivers who pose serious risks to road safety,” he added.
The agency urged the public to report any suspected shortcuts or irregularities in the licensing process and reiterated that only certified and compliant driving schools should be patronized./PN
