THE regional office of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has started investigating about 300 driver licenses on whether these were acquired illegally or whether their holders skipped important processes during the application stage.
Thomas Edward Roales, chief law enforcer of the office, said upon initial database verification, these licenses were flagged because there were certain processes that were not complied with especially as these licenses were obtained from other regions.
“These licenses are on hold because the cases against their holders are being investigated,” he said.
Roales said if there were enough pieces of evidence showing that these licenses were illegally obtained, these might be revoked or that restrictions may be imposed.
The problem, he said, “these people would apply for licenses illegally in other regions and eventually file complaints with us (in case they meet problems with their licenses,” he said.
Also, since the agency is allowed to flag down vehicles especially if they commit traffic violations, some of the drivers turned over licenses that when authenticity was verified with the database of the agency, these were illegally obtained.
:”It can be determined in the license code where it (license) is obtained (especially if the person is a resident of the region),” Roales said, adding that securing the license from other region for those living in the region, although not always, may lead to the discovery that these were obtained illegally.
“We can hold these (licenses of residents of the region that were obtained from other regions, on the grounds of verifying (whether there were violations committed in the process of application),” he added.
During the verification process, the database would show what were the documents that were not submitted or processes that were not followed. This would lead the agency to file a case for revocation of these licenses, explained Roales.
However, the revocation of the licenses can only be done by the regional director where the licenses were obtained. “But revocation can only be done if there were no attachments (documentary requirements),” he added, pointing out that at present, it would be easier to obtain a license illegally obtained because the payment process can even be done by using online methods.
He explained that obtaining a license from another region is allowed, although this can be an indication that there is something questionable in the process. “Why would you obtain a license in another region if you are a resident here?” he added.
When licenses are obtained in other regions and the holders renew these in the region where they live, and that the process during the application period was not followed, the office can hold the licenses or it can direct the holder to go back to the region where he or she obtained so that the person can complete the process.
“The person must show up before the regional office (where he or she obtained the license) and undergo the required seminar, drive testing and other processes,” he said.
If the requirements were not attached to the application, the license is illegally obtained, he added. “And that is a ground for revocation,” Roales said.
