LTO cracks down on ‘fixers’: Employee suspended, JO worker fired

ILOILO CITY — The Land Transportation Office Region 6 (LTO-6) has taken action against two personnel caught in separate corruption incidents, signaling a no-tolerance stance on “fixing” schemes.

Regional Director Atty. Gaudioso P. Geduspan II slapped a three-month preventive suspension without pay on a regular Operations Division employee and terminated a job-order worker following reports of fraudulent transactions and undue interference with law enforcers.

The suspended employee faces formal investigation for Grave Misconduct, Serious Dishonesty, and violations of the Ease of Doing Business Act (R.A. 11032) after allegedly offering to “fix” motorists’ violations for reduced payments. Using a dummy Facebook account, the employee reportedly contacted apprehended drivers, promising to lower penalties and secure the release of licenses and plates.

The case surfaced after a rider, cited for reckless driving, had a friend video-record a transaction where the employee offered to reduce a P12,000 penalty for an unregistered vehicle to just P7,000. Geduspan cited a clear pattern of fraudulent activity, stressing that the preventive suspension is necessary to prevent obstruction of the ongoing investigation led by LTO-6’s Intelligence and Investigation Unit.

In a separate incident on 9 October in Zarraga, Iloilo, a job-order employee was immediately terminated after evidence showed a motorist attempting to bypass law enforcers by dealing directly with the personnel. The individual’s name and mobile number were reportedly posted inside the vehicle, raising concerns of undue influence.

LTO 6 officials condemned the acts as direct assaults on public service integrity and possible violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (R.A. No. 3019).

“These swift disciplinary actions serve as a strong warning: improper influence, fixers, and corruption have no place in LTO-6,” Geduspan said.