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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider LTO-Visayas spearheads gathering of information on auto shop selling banned right-hand drive vehicles

LTO-Visayas spearheads gathering of information on auto shop selling banned right-hand drive vehicles

Published Jun 9, 2025 06:40 pm
CEBU CITY – Imported right-hand-drive vehicles were seized in a raid in Talisay City, Cebu on Monday, June 9.
ASSISTANT Secretary Vigor Mendoza II (left), chief of the Land Transportation Office, inspects the shop in Talisay City, Cebu where right-hand-vehicles were seized on Monday, June 9. (Contributed photo)
ASSISTANT Secretary Vigor Mendoza II (left), chief of the Land Transportation Office, inspects the shop in Talisay City, Cebu where right-hand-vehicles were seized on Monday, June 9. (Contributed photo)
The seizure of the 65 vehicles was in line with the instruction of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to conduct aggressive operations against those who compromise road safety, said Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Vigor Mendoza II.
Mendoza was present when the raid was conducted.
Backed by agents of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and supervised by Special Envoy on Transnational Crime Ambassador Markus V. Lacanilao, the raid was carried out based on the confirmed intelligence reports of the illegal operation of the auto shop.
The LTO-Central Visayas, led by its regional director Glen Galario, spearheaded the gathering of needed information about the shop's illegal operation.
Mendoza said the involvement of Lacanilao came from the result of the investigation over the involvement of foreign nationals in the illegal importation, assembly, and sale of right-hand drive motor vehicles.
During the operation, a female Peruvian national was held under custody after her name came out as the operator of the raided shop.
The LTO has been conducting aggressive operations against the importation of right-hand drive vehicles and their assembly and sale in the country following the discovery of a store in Quezon City last month.
Following the raid in Quezon City, three more auto shops based in Davao were also raided and yielded over 40 right-hand drive vehicles.
“These stores appear to be all connected. That is why Ambassador Lacanilao was here with us as part of the thorough investigation into this illegal activity because there were reports that this is run by at least one foreigner,” said Mendoza.
Based on the initial investigation, the right-hand drive vehicles were imported and later assembled in the country before they were sold.
Mendoza earlier ordered an investigation on an LTO office in Mindanao accused of having facilitated the registration of the illegally-assembled right-hand drive motor vehicles.
“Lahat ng mga ito ay pananagutin natin base na din sa utos ng ating DOTr Secretary. Sa ngayon, malaliman ang imbestigasyon natin para matukoy ang lahat ng taong nasa likod nito,” said Mendoza.
(We will make all those responsible accountable according to the instruction of DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon. We are conducting an investigation to identify individuals behind the importation of right-hand drive vehicles in the country)
Under Republic Act 8506, or An Act Banning the Registration and Operation of Vehicles With Right-Hand Steering Wheel in any Private or Public Street, Road, or Highway, the mere presence of right-hand vehicles in the country is illegal as they should not have been imported in the first place.
The law states that “It shall be unlawful for any person to import, cause the importation of, register, cause the registration of, use, or operate any vehicle with its steering wheel right-hand side thereof in any highway, street, or road, whether private or public or of the national or local government.”

Related Tags

LTO Land Transportation Office Talisay City Cebu Right-hand drive vehicles RHD Vigor Mendoza
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