A fixer who offered his illegal services to a top Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) official at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Headquarters in Quezon City was arrested on Tuesday (June 15).
After receiving reports from the Authority, elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Regional Field Unit-National Capital Region arrested a certain Randy Albor outside LTO’s gate in an entrapment operation.
Prior to this, ARTA conducted surveillance operations outside the LTO Headquarters to verify the complaints they have received about fixers in the area.
Upon confirmation, Undersecretary Brig. Gen. Carlos Quita, Ret., ARTA Deputy Director-General for Administration and Finance, volunteered to renew his license to lead the fixers in an entrapment operation.
Quita posed as a broker when he went to the LTO to get his license renewed. Albor then offered his services. The deputy director-general said they breezed through the medical examination. Even more surprising, his overpriced license was made inside the LTO Headquarters.
ARTA Director-General Sec. Jeremiah Belgica went to the said office and placed posters at the cafeteria outside LTO, that is said to be a hotspot for fixers, and at the LTO Headquarters’ Public Assistance Area to remind the public that fixing should not be tolerated.
“Nakikiusap din ako, actually, sa mga taong bayan. Huwag po natin kunsintehin ang mga fixers kasi ang korapsyon is a two-way street,” he said in an interview.
“Sitahin niyo, paalisin ninyo kung mayroong ganyan, otherwise, madadamay sila,” he added.
LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante echoed the ARTA czar’s sentiment and asked the Authority to turn over Quita’s license for them to verify if it is legitimate.
Galvante said it would be difficult for fixers to copy the numerous security features on a legitimate driver’s license.
In relation to this, he warned those patronizing fixers that a fake driver’s license does not have any benefit to them.
“Anong tulong na maibibigay sa kanila ng isang fake na license? Wala silang… benefit na makukuha roon,” Galvante said.
He added that, although the office is not at full capacity in terms of workforce, there is no need for fixers because they can address the needs of everyone going to LTO.
For his part, Belgica reminded the public to use the Citizen’s Charter posted at various government agencies as a guide for their transactions.
He also reminded them of the 3-7-20 rule: Three days processing time for simple transactions, seven days for complex transactions, and 20 days for highly technical transactions.
Albor will be charged with violating Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018. He is now under the custody of the CIDG. He will be undergoing inquest proceedings on June 16.
LTO committed to conducting further investigations on the incident. ARTA will also conduct its own probe. – jlo
