The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) vowed to run after fake Provisional Authority (PA) and Certificate of Public Conveyance (CPC) amid reports of their rampant use especially in the provinces.

Both PA and CPC are issued by the LTFRB to allow public utility vehicles (PUVs) to operate and LTFRB Chairperson Vigor D. Mendoza II said they have been receiving persistent reports of bogus documents.

“We have been receiving reports of fake PAs and CPCs and this is actually one of the things that we focused on, including the integration of technology through digitalization aside from aggressive law enforcement that we have been initiating in the past few months,” said Mendoza.

“So we are warning those engaged in this illegal activity to stop and do the right thing because we will file as many criminal charges against you,” he warned.

He cited for instance the case of a transport company whose PA was used by unscrupulous motor vehicle owners for their illegal operation The complaint already reached the LTFRB and based on the initial investigation, the PA was indeed fake as the signatory, Joshua Viray, is no longer connected with the agency.

Mendoza explained that using fake PAs and CPCs is much worse than colorum since it involves deception and falsification of documents.

Anti-colorum operations involved impounding of motor vehicles and right now, the LTFRB and the Department of Transportation have been meeting with the Department of Justice to add more teeth in the campaign.

Aside from designating the court as the only entity that could release the impounded vehicle, the LTFRB is also pushing for immediate detention of those who would be arrested.

In the case of using fake PAs and CPCs, he said additional charges will be included which means additional fine and penalty since it involved falsification of public documents.

“We are now meeting with various stakeholders, including transport groups to intensify the reporting of those using fake PAs and CPCs,” said Mendoza.

“This should be a team effort for the government, the transport sector and stakeholders because what is at stake here is the safety of commuters, the common good of our transportation system and the safety of all road users,” he added.