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'Personally witnessed by LTO chief': Authorities nab 5 'fixers' outside district office

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Motorists line up at the Land Transportation Office" s="" Novaliches="" office="" in="" Quezon="" City="" on="" July="" mostly="" for="" license="" and="" car="" registration="" renewal.="" LTO="" gave="" a="" grace="" period="" where="" late="" penalties="" are="" waived.="" Mark="" ABS-CBN="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/03/29/20200714-covid19-quarantine-lto-md-2.jpg"/><figcaption>Motorists line up at the Land Transportation Office&#x27;s Novaliches office in Quezon City on July 14, 2020, mostly for license and car registration and renewal. LTO gave a 60-day grace period where late penalties are waived. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - The Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) have arrested 5 alleged &quot;fixers&quot; outside its branch in Novaliches, the agency said on Wednesday. </p><p>In a statement, the agency said LTO chief Jay Art Tugade &quot;personally witnessed the offering of services by the supposed &#x27;fixers&#x27;&quot; outside the district branch. </p><p>The suspects, now under the custody of the CIDG, allegedly targeted those applying for student permits. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/11/23/govt-looks-to-digitalize-more-lto-transactions">Gov&#x27;t looks to digitalize more LTO transactions</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/11/23/lto-to-release-order-on-cap-for-driving-school-fees">LTO to release order on cap for driving school fees amid &#x27;anti-poor&#x27; license process</a></li></ul><p>The agency is also looking into the possibility of making the district branch&#x27;s head liable for the supposed proliferation of alleged fixers. </p><p>“Malaki po ang pananagutan ng hepe ng District Office ng LTO... Sa punto ng administrative, by having fixers around the office iyan ay gross negligence ng isang hepe ng opisina,&quot; Tugade said. </p><p>&quot;So, talagang mayroon tayong command responsibility dito na sinusunod. Rest assured po sa publiko na I will hold my chief of that office accountable duon sa pagkakahuli ng mga fixer sa labas ng kanyang tanggapan,” he added. </p><p>He warned of those subscribing to &quot;shortcuts&quot; in getting driver&#x27;s license and permits, saying this could possibly lead to road accidents due to their lack of training and experience. </p><p>Some fixers, he claimed, are offering around P10,500 just for a student permit. </p><p>This was why he would push for the digitalization of LTO&#x27;s transactions and processes to make these easier and convenient to applicants and stop corruption.</p><p>&quot;Napaka-delikado sa aksidente at buwis-buhay ang ganitong uri ng shortcut na dapat po nating iwasan at sawatahin,” Tugade said. </p><p>Earlier, the agency launched a digital complaint and feedback scheme to prevent the proliferation of fixers </p><p>Tugade said the LTO would coordinate closely with the division concerned or regional offices that need to be investigated once they receive the complaints or suggestions.</p><p>Recently, the LTO <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/11/23/lto-to-release-order-on-cap-for-driving-school-fees">ordered a cap</a> on the rates for theoretical and practical driving courses following criticisms that these have become &quot;anti-poor.&quot;</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2510281" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

The agency said LTO chief Jay Art Tugade 'personally witnessed the offering of services by the supposed 'fixers'' outside its Novaliches branch. 