LTO warns test centers accused of extortion

Land Transportation Office (LTO)-7 Regional Director Victor Emmanuel Caindec has warned private motor vehicle inspection centers (PMVICs) of facing sanctions after the agency received reports that these facilities are intentionally failing inspections to extort money.

The allegations surfaced after LTO started implementing the online renewal for registrations in some offices in the country.

Caindec said that he received a complaint on the alleged scheme that is currently happening to PMVICs.

“We are gathering details through complaints, and we urge the public to report it to us so that we can investigate, and we can file necessary legal actions against these PMVICs,” said Caindec in a statement.

Caindec also said that their agency received a complaint against a PMVIC located in Cebu but refused to divulge other information since they have yet to gather more details on the allegation.

Under Department of Transportation (DOTr) Memorandum Circular 2019-009 on the “Revised Guidelines for the Authorization of Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers,” it stated that authorized PMVIC, who allegedly to have committed a violation(s) shall be issued a Show Cause Order by the Authorization Committee.

PMVICs found guilty of violating the terms and conditions of their “Authorization Certificate” and the guidelines stated by the department may face a minimum penalty of P200,000 and a 30-day suspension and up to the cancellation of their authorization.

The LTO has started the online renewal of the motor vehicle registrations through its Land Transportation and Management System (LTMS) portal in February of this year.

The online renewal of registration is in line with the LTO’s observance of Republic Act 11032 of the “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018,” following the full implementation of the LTMS. —