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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider LTO orders special operations vs colorum vehicles

LTO orders special operations vs colorum vehicles

Published Oct 5, 2025 11:37 am  |  Updated Oct 5, 2025 01:51 pm
Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Asst. Sec. Vigor D. Mendoza II (Photo: LTO)
Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Asst. Sec. Vigor D. Mendoza II (Photo: LTO)
Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II, chief of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), ordered all regional directors to conduct special operations against colorum vehicles and ensure visibility in areas where drivers pick up passengers.
Mendoza’s order was issued after Department Transportation Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez directed the agency to assist in the crackdown against colorum amid concerns on safety of passengers.
Unlike legitimate public utility vehicles, colorum vans and other vehicles do not have insurance for passengers and Mendoza said there were incidents in the past when the passengers would shoulder all medical expenses.
In his order, Mendoza also pointed out the necessity of intelligence-gathering to identify the motor vehicles involved and the routes they usually take.
“These colorum operators and drivers have leveled up their illegal activities due to the series of operations that were conducted in the past two years as well as the policies implemented against them. We in the LTO should always be one step ahead of them to ensure that they will be busted,” said Mendoza.
Among the policies implemented by Mendoza is the mandatory filing of criminal charges against those who would be apprehended and the guidance to all LTO units that only court order will release vehicles impounded due to colorum operations.
Hundreds of colorum vehicles were already impounded while a number of operators were already charged, the recent was a case in Antique where a driver was convicted and was sent to jail and ordered to pay fine last month.
The order for intensified police visibility and special operations will reinforce the recent directive of Mendoza to conduct nationwide revamp of district office heads amid a noticeable decline in the apprehensions of colorum vehicles in the past few months.
“These colorum vehicles are severely affecting legitimate transport operators and we assure our friends in the transport sector of sustained operations to protect their livelihood,” said Mendoza.
Transport groups earlier said they have been losing 30 percent of their income every day due to the colorum vehicles.
Mendoza also urged the public not to patronize colorum vehicles because of road worthiness and insurance issues.
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