Land Transportation Office Chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao on Monday presented 20 luxury cars impounded for violations ranging from non-registration to being driven without a license.

Lacanilao said the vehicles were seized during a two-day weekend operation across Metro Manila conducted by LTO enforcers. Many of the apprehended drivers, he noted, told authorities they “lacked time” to register their vehicles or secure a driver’s license.

“This is not a valid reason. We will apprehend all kinds of cars and drivers when we spotted some violations while they were on the roads,” Lacanilao said in Filipino during the presentation.

He added that owners of unregistered flagged vehicles may bring proper ownership documents to the LTO for verification. If proven to have entered the country illegally, the impounded units will be turned over to the Bureau of Customs.

Lacanilao also hinted that authorities are now “zeroing in” on a Chinese national suspected of involvement in the alleged entry of smuggled luxury vehicles into the Philippines.