Fake franchises probed

Transportation Secretary Pantaleon Alvarez yesterday directed the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to jointly probe the issuance of alleged fake franchises to public utility operators.

Alvarez issued the directive following the filing of a complaint of the Police Community Relations Group at Camp Crame by the head of a jeepney drivers’ and operators’ organization.

Efren de Luna, president of the Philippine Confederation of Drivers’ Organizations-Alliance of Concerned Transport Operators (PCDO-ACTO), complained that a syndicate operating within the two DOTC-attached agencies was engaged in the sale of fake documents, stickers and receipts, which are being passed off as legal franchises to operate.

He said many of his members had been victimized by the group by as much as P3,500 for fake jeepney franchises.

"We should not let this pass. For every fake franchise issued by the group, there is a corresponding loss in government revenues," Alvarez said.

The DOTC chief said that LTO personnel and their cohorts outside the agency involved in the syndicate would be prosecuted.

"Those involved will be treated with the same severity as those involved in fake drug testing centers and unscrupulous insurance underwriters and agencies," Alvarez said.