BACOLOD CITY – The Land Transportation Office (LTO)-Negros Occidental Licensing Center has validated the Philippine driver’s license issued to an Indian fugitive who was arrested here early this month.
In a letter from its chief Joseph Danoy Sr., the licensing center certified that the driver’s license issued to a certain Kant Gupta of Barangay Taculing here on March 7, 2022, is valid and authentic, based on their records.
The LTO also certified that Gupta obtained his student permit from them on January 16, 2022. Records also showed that upon application, he submitted his Theoretical Driving Course Certificate and passport, among others, which reflected “Filipino” and “Nepalese” citizenship, respectively.
However, due to the data he encoded upon his enrollment in the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) public portal, his citizenship reflected as “Filipino.” As a result, this appeared upon printing of his driver’s license, according to the LTO.
The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) had earlier asked the LTO-Negros Occidental Licensing Center to verify the authenticity of Gupta’s driver’s license in the interest of upholding the integrity of official documents and ensuring public safety.
Police were puzzled why Gupta used Filipino nationality on his driver’s license. Their query was in relation to the investigation being conducted by the BCPO regarding a potential use of a fraudulent driver’s license.
Gupta, who goes by the name Joginder Geong, alias Joginder Geyong, with a fraudulent Nepalese passport, was ordered arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for violating the Philippine Immigration Law, Commonwealth Act No. 613, being an undesirable alien.
The 40-year-old suspect was arrested in his rented house in Barangay Taculing on July 1 for murder, attempted murder, extortion, and robbery in India.
Police said the suspect allegedly led an organized crime syndicate and has been sentenced to life imprisonment for violating arms laws in India.
There were also allegations linking him to a terrorist group. Police have no details about the said allegation.
Mayor Albee Benitez is awaiting a report from the LTO-6 (Western Visayas) regarding the validity of Gupta's driver’s license.
“We want to know where’s the lapses,” Benitez said.
With the advancement of technology, the LTO told Benitez that everything is online now, and documents may not be validated properly.
Benitez said that it is either the issuance of the driver’s license was intentional or there is weakness in the LTO system.
He said that he has asked the LTO to give him a report to enable the city government to address the issue properly.