Manila: The Land Transportation Office (LTO) announced on Wednesday its contemplation of filing criminal charges against two Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineers implicated in a controversy involving a flood control project. The engineers are accused of using fake driver's licenses to gain access to casinos.
According to Philippines News Agency, LTO chief Vigor Mendoza stated during a press briefing at Camp Crame that Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez and former Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara have been issued a show cause order. They are required to attend a hearing on September 12 to address allegations of their involvement with counterfeit licenses. The LTO is actively investigating the origins of these fake licenses, a matter that surfaced during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation into alleged ghost flood control projects.
Mendoza indicated that the two engineers might face revocation of their licenses and perpetual disqualification from obtaining a driver's license. The LTO is also exploring the implementation of additional security features on driver's licenses to curb counterfeiting. He emphasized the agency's ongoing collaboration with the cybercrime division in tackling the issue of counterfeit licenses, which extend beyond casino usage.
In a related development, the Philippine National Police - Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) disclosed at the same briefing the arrest of a couple involved in the sale of fake government identification cards and documents in Valenzuela City. PNP-ACG chief, Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang, reported the apprehension of a couple identified as "Chippie," 44, and his wife, "Kaye," 40. The operation led to the confiscation of 391 falsified government IDs and documents on September 8.
Investigations revealed that the suspects sold fake IDs at PHP40 each, distributing them through courier services to resellers. The suspects also offered counterfeit government documents, including PhilHealth member data records and IDs, and fake persons with disability cards at PHP400 each. The suspects claimed to be resellers obtaining the counterfeit items from a supplier.
Yang stated that the couple would be charged under Article 172 (Falsification by Private Individual and Use of Falsified Documents) of the Revised Penal Code, in conjunction with Section 6 of Republic Act 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012). This operation aligns with the directive of acting PNP chief, Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., to enhance measures against cybercrime and ensure digital public safety.
