By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz
MANILA – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Thursday lauded the Philippine National Police (PNP) – Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) following the arrest of a manufacturer and seller of fake driver’s licenses and other government identification cards (IDs).
“I commend the PNP-ACG for a job well done. This is proof of strong coordination and cooperation among government agencies to stop this kind of illegal activity in line with the instruction of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. through our Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon,” LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said in a statement.
According to the LTO, the operation stemmed from reports of rampant selling of fake government IDs in Valenzuela City, particularly persons with disability (PWD) cards.
The manufacturer was identified after she was found selling various IDs through social media and other online platforms.
A surveillance operation of the suspect also found that she was manufacturing driver’s licenses and other documents from the LTO.
“From there, there was coordination made with the PNP-ACG for the conduct of the operation, and this resulted in the arrest of this person responsible for this illegal activity,” Mendoza said.
The suspect is a 29-year-old woman and was arrested on May 14 in a joint operation of the PNP-ACG, PWD Affairs Office (PDAO), and the LTO.
During the arrest, government forces seized eight fake PWD IDs, two fake driver’s licenses, and personal items.
These will be used as evidence in filing a case for violation of Article 172 (Falsification by private individual and use of falsified documents) of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Mendoza said investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest the suspect’s accomplices. (PNA)
