BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
The fake drivers’ licenses circulating in some areas in Western Visayas come from Bacolod City and Negros Occidental, an official of the Land Transportation Office in Region 6 said yesterday.
Assistant regional director Gaudioso Geduspan III said that this information came out following their successive operations in Iloilo province, adding that they are now closely coordinating with authorities in Negros Occidental and Bacolod to neutralize the manufacture of fake driver’s licenses.
In fact, Geduspan said, they were able to arrest three individuals in the cities of Bago and Bacolod during an entrapment operation yesterday.
He said the Bacolod City Police Mobile Company Force and the LTO operatives arrested Jefferson Panisa, 33, of Purok Kahirup in Brgy. Mansailingan, Bacolod, after he transacted with a poseur buyer for the purchase of a fake driver’s license about noon yesterday.
After his arrest, Panisa pointed to Loriebelle Zamora, 43, of Purok Paghidaet in Brgy. Mansilingan as his cohort, and identified the alleged manufacturer of the licenses as Marlon Tandongan of Purok Paho South in Brgy. Taloc, Bago, who were apprehended yesterday afternoon, Geduspan also said.
Several fake licenses and equipment, like laminators, printer, computer, and hard drive were recovered during the operation.
Charges for falsification of public documents and violation of Republic Act 9485, as amended by RA 11032, for fixing will be filed against them.*
