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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Two LTO employees, security guard dismissed for extortion

Two LTO employees, security guard dismissed for extortion

Published Dec 6, 2025 09:43 am
LTO chief Asst. Secretary Markus Lacanilao confronts the two agency employees and a security guard for allegedly extorting money from jeepney operators and drivers. (photo: LTO)
LTO chief Asst. Secretary Markus Lacanilao confronts the two agency employees and a security guard for allegedly extorting money from jeepney operators and drivers. (photo: LTO)
Two employees and a security guard assigned to the Central Office of the Land Transportation Office in Quezon City were dismissed and are now facing criminal charges for allegedly extorting money from public utility jeepney drivers and operators.
LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao confronted the three suspects after the complainants asked for his assistance on Dec. 5 against the erring agency employees whom they accused of extortion.
The complainants are drivers and operators of passenger jeepneys who are mandated to undergo a seminar for committing traffic violations in exchange for the release of their impounded vehicles.
And based on the complaints, the LTO personnel allegedly told them that they have the option not to attend the seminar if they would pay P1,000 each.
Lacanilao said the LTO personnel were identified by the complainants.
He said he immediately ordered the agency's Intelligence and Investigation Division to investigate and file appropriate charges against the erring LTO personnel.
"Why are you so brazen in doing this? You know when I was appointed LTO chief that I had a seven-point program (against corruption). Now, you are fired from the LTO and you will be charged criminally for this)," Lacanilao told the suspects in Filipino during the confrontation.
"We are reforming and changing the image of the agency and yet you people still persist in your illegal activities," he added.
Earlier, Lacanilao vowed to clean the agency of all illegal activities even as he vowed to crack down hard on employees and officials behind these irregularities and "horrific scams" that are fleecing the public.
The LTO chair said that he saw some of these deficiencies first hand since assuming the agency's top post last Oct. 10
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