Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Director-General Sec. Jeremiah Belgica commended the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for its string of successful entrapment operations against fixers, netting at least 47 fixers in around two months.
Based on LTO’s update to ARTA, the former apprehended the said law violators at the vicinity of the LTO Licensing Centers in the cities of Quezon, Pasay, San Juan, and Caloocan from June 27 to Aug. 4, 2021.
Belgica congratulated Assistant Sec. Edgar Galvante, LTO chief, and Atty. Clarence Guinto, acting director of the LTO Law Enforcement Service, for LTO’s intensified anti-fixing operations, the first to be initiated by a government agency other than ARTA.
“Your decisive action clearly demonstrates the LTO’s commitment [to] and support [of] ARTA’s intensified anti-fixer campaign, and is something worthy of emulation by other government agencies,” the ARTA chief said in his letter dated Aug. 9.
“We recognize that this marks the first extensive anti-fixer operation initiated by another government agency following ARTA’s call for a whole-of-government approach against fixers and their cohorts,” he added.
Belgica also lauded LTO for immediately replacing 64 security guards of LTO offices in Metro Manila who are suspected of conniving with fixers.
The ARTA secretary called on other national government agencies and local governments to follow LTO’s lead in cracking down on fixers and cleaning their ranks of those implementing red tape in their offices.
“What LTO did is exactly what we expect from all government agencies. If you see any violators of Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act, don’t hesitate to hold them accountable. You don’t have to wait for ARTA to do it for you,” he said.
“Kahit nasa labas ng bakuran mo ang fixer, pero kung ito naman ay alam mong umaaligid-aligid sa labas, dapat gawan niyo na ng paraan na mahuli at mapaalis ang mga iyan. Dahil kung hindi, ang ibig sabihin lang noon ay hinahayaan niyo lang at malamang may kumikita sa inyo,” Belgica stressed.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) had earlier affirmed its readiness to coordinate with the Authority’s intensified anti-fixer campaign.
The DOTr also assured that all branches of the LTO and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will also join the campaign. (ARTA) – jlo
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