SAN FERNANDO CITY, LA UNION - The strict advo-cacy of the LTO SFCLU District Office against the prolif-eration fake motor vehicle (MV) documents led to the sei-zure of a Mitsubishi Adventure GLS2 Wagon bearing plate number RFW-663, in partnership with Police Re-gional Office 1 Criminal Investigation & Detection Group (PRO1-CIDG). On March 27, LTO SFLU DO Chief Ernesto Jesus L. Samonte received a courtesy call from former Luna Mayor George Pinzon, co-owner of a car depot engaged in buy and sell of second hand motor vehicles. Pinzon requested verification on the status of two motor vehicles, one Honda Jazz and 1 Mitsubishi Adventure Wagon bearing plate no. RFW-663, sold to him by 2 male persons. Upon verification from the LTO IT database, records of the Honda Jazz Motor vehicle appeared to be in good standing. On the contrary, records of the Mitsubishi Ad-venture Wagon showed that the original Certificate of Registration (CR) shown by the vendors did not match with the CR No. on the database. Thus, Mr. Pinzon sought Samonte’s advice on the issue and he was told to bring the subject motor vehicle to LTO SFDO together with the vendors of said vehicle. The Mitsubishi Adventure Wagon was brought to LTO by PCInsp Silverio Ordinado, Bangar Police Station Chief upon Pinzon’s request. Upon arrival at the agency, the ve-hicle’s documents were scrutinized by Samonte together with SPO2 Gacayan of PRO1 CIDG. When Chief Samonte asked the vendors why they had in their possession the MV and documents, they replied that it was also sold to them in Baguio City. When further asked to present the acknowledgement re-ceipt for payment of said vehicle, the supposed vendors could not present any but assured that they will show the

(Inset photo: the Subject Motor Vehicle being in-spected at the LTO impound-ing area in Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union)

LTOR1-IN-ACTION

LTO-SFLU DO nets motor vehicle with fake documents By Ronald N. Aquino

documents on the next working day which would be April 1, 2013. The scenario triggered suspicion on the part of the LTO-San Fernando LU DO Chief and took the initia-tive to verify the authenticity of the registration docu-ments thru a request confirmation from the originating agency, LTO Olongapo City District Office.

On the 1st of April 2013, the vendors did not appear at the LTO San Fernando District Office as agreed from the previous meeting. On that same day, the LTO Olongapo City District Office confirmed that CR No. 11355715-0 is fake and not included in their series and sent the scanned copy from their file with latest CR No. 8510851-6 dated April 3, 2009, and encumbered to Philippine Savings Bank.

Based on the confirmation from LTO Olongapo City Dis-trict Office, Mr. Samonte concluded that the Certificate of Registration presented by the alleged vendors was coun-terfeited.

As of this writing, complaint charges against the vendors were filed by Mr. George Pinzon for falsification of public documents and attempted estafa at the provincial prosecu-tor’s office. In addition, official communications had been sent by LTO San Fernando LU DO to the registered owner and PS Bank Olongapo City Branch Manager to clarify issues on the documentation of the subject MV.

The actions undertaken by the LTO San Fernando LU DO Chief Samonte in partnership with other law enforce-ment agencies, will serve as a warning to organized crime groups that the agency is dead serious in pursuing perpe-trators including those attempting to engage in the falsifi-cation of MV registration documents.

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