ILOILO City – Don’t be easily charmed by persons who offer easy and fast ways to secure drivers’ licenses.
“Basi manugtunto,” said Assistant Regional Director Gaudioso Geduspan of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Region 6.
A 25-year-old suspected fixer and counterfeiter of driver’s licenses was arrested in a recent entrapment operation of the LTO at a mall in Jaro district.
Eldine Jane Berman of Bingawan, Iloilo was the fourth suspect arrested in the region, said Geduspan.
She was working with a Manila-based counterfeiter and advertised their services on social media, Geduspan added.
THE ‘PROCESS’
A client is required to submit a photo and birth certificate, among others.
Then the client must pay – around P6,000 for a non-professional driver’s license and P7,500 for a professional driver’s license.
The fixer will send the submitted documents to her contact in Manila. After 10 days, the fake licenses would be shipped to the fixer.
“Gina-advertise sang sining mga nagapameke sang lisensya that sa ila makakuha ka lisensya nga wala ka na gaagi sa driving school, indi ka na mag-theoretical (seminar) kay sa ila hapos lang,” Geduspan said.
Berman was charged with violation of Republic Act 9485, or The Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007.
Geduspan warned others who are into this illegal business.
“Waay gid pulos ang inyo obra. Damu kamo nahalitan kag ginatunto. Untatan na ninyo. Subong nga pandemic damu ang pigado, dugangan n’yo pa,” Geduspan said.
On other hand, charges for falsification of public documents, penalty, imprisonment, revocation of driver’s license, and worst, perpetual disqualification to drive will be among the consequences a driver may face if found using a fake license.
“Ang issuance sang aton driver’s license is not a right, it is merely a privilege sang gobyerno sa mga quality drivers,” Geduspan stressed./PN
