ILOILO City – From fake licenses to viral road stunts, 16 motorists in Western Visayas have been permanently banned from driving as the Land Transportation Office (LTO-6) intensified its campaign against traffic offenders undermining road safety and public order.
Regional Director Gaudioso Geduspan II said the lifetime disqualification was imposed on violators whose actions demonstrated “gross disregard for the law and public safety.”
The list includes motorists from Panay and Negros islands involved in fraudulent licensing, reckless displays on public roads, and other grave offenses.
Among them were two drivers — one from Iloilo City and another from Bacolod City — who attempted to renew falsified permits in May.
Though both claimed ignorance, Director Geduspan ruled that their actions constituted a grave violation of licensing regulations, deeming them unfit to operate vehicles.
Verification by the LTO showed that the license numbers they presented were not registered in the Land Transportation Management System.
The Iloilo motorist even confessed to paying P4,500 to a fixer in 2020 to obtain a fake permit.
The crackdown also extended to viral online offenders. Four passengers were caught on video performing dangerous stunts — including one man wearing only underwear while dancing on a moving vehicle’s roof.
A 20-year-old mechanic with only a student permit was also banned for drag racing on a customer’s motorcycle, while another motorist was sanctioned for performing a risky “Superman” stunt on a motorcycle.
“All disqualified individuals are placed under an alarm list, ensuring they can never legally operate a motor vehicle in the Philippines,” the LTO-6 emphasized.
Since January, the regional office has also revoked 28 driver’s licenses and suspended nine others. A revoked license may be reinstated after at least two years, while suspended licenses are reactivated after the penalty period lapses.
As part of its broader enforcement drive, LTO-6 has issued 280 show-cause orders to traffic violators across the region, 132 of which have already been resolved./PN
