Fake LTO chief nabbed for extortion scheme

MANILA, Philippines — Intelligence agents of the Land Transportation Office and the police Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) arrested a man who introduced himself as the LTO chief and extorted money in exchange for the release of impounded colorum buses.

LTO Chairman Vigor Mendoza II identified his impostor as Jeffrey Morong Mendoza, of San Mateo, Rizal.

The suspect reportedly claimed to be the LTO chief as he talked to the owners of the impounded buses.

Mendoza said he discovered the scheme after some bus operators informed him that someone was impersonating him to collect P250,000 for the release of an impounded passenger bus.

Mendoza said he ordered LTO intelligence and investigation division chief Renante Melitante to conduct a probe.

With the help of the victims, Melitante said he coordinated with the ACG in establishing contact with the suspect.

According to the victims, they were contacted by the suspect and told that they needed to pay P250,000 for each impounded passenger bus with colorum violations.

The LTO imposes a fine of P1 million for colorum bus operations.

Last year, the LTO issued a memorandum that impounded motor vehicles with colorum violations could be released only through a court order.

The suspect was arrested after he allegedly received P1,000 in marked money at the Cubao Terminal Complex in Quezon City on Saturday.

Seized from him were the boodle money, a driver’s license and two cellular phones.

Charges of usurpation of authority and estafa under the Revised Penal Code, in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, are being readied against the suspect.

Mendoza lauded the LTO and ACG personnel for the suspect’s arrest.

“I will personally monitor this case to make sure that this man will be punished to the full extent of the law. This should serve as a stern warning against scammers that they will suffer the consequences of their actions,” he said.

Mendoza urged transport operators and the public not to transact with scammers and report incidents of extortion, name-dropping and other illegal money-making schemes to authorities.