LTO deploys more agents vs extortion as crackdown on colorum PUVs intensifies
Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Vigor Mendoza II has ordered the deployment of more mystery colorum vehicle drivers to maintain the integrity of the crackdown on colorum public utility vehicles (PUVs) following the arrest of six enforcers of the agency for alleged extortion.
Mendoza said transport groups have already committed to send volunteers to act as mystery colorum PUV drivers in order to ensure that the campaign will not be taken advantage of erring LTO enforcers.
“Our aggressive drive against colorum PUVs will come with the effort on the part of the LTO to ensure the integrity of this campaign. This should not be taken advantage of by anybody for any extortion activity,” said Mendoza.
On Sunday, Mendoza ordered the relief of six LTO traffic enforcers and the filing of criminal and administrative charges against them that could lead to their dismissal from the agency.
At the same time, Mendoza also ordered a thorough investigation into the team leaders of the LTO traffic enforcers for command responsibility and gross neglect of duty.
Mendoza said the deployment of mystery colorum drivers will be done nationwide and will focus more on major urban areas of the country.
Earlier, Mendoza also deployed mystery applicants for driver’s license and vehicle registration which was found effective in addressing the prevalence of fixers in all LTO agencies in a short period of time under his leadership.
Mendoza also expressed gratitude to the transport groups for their assistance in LTO campaign.
Meanwhile, seven major transport groups in the country have expressed gratitude to Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista and Mendoza for their aggressive action to finally put an end to the illegal operation of colorum public utility vehicles (PUVs).
In a statement issued by the “Magnificent 7”, the group said the current aggressive anti-colorum drive is an answered prayer for the long years of their complaints and own battle to address the problem that has been affecting the daily income of legitimate drivers and operators across the country.
The group said the aggressive anti-colorum drive will pave the way to recover 30 percent of their daily income which goes to the illegal operation of colorum vehicles.