DOJ looks into Stradcom link to carjackers

MANILA, Philippines -  The Department of Justice (DOJ) will look into a government task force report showing an apparent link between Land Transportation Office (LTO) information technology contractor Stradcom Corp. and carjacking syndicates.

Secretary Leila de Lima said she will wait for her copy of the report of the joint DOJ - Department of Interior and Local Government task force before deciding if a fact-finding probe is necessary.

“I will see first the report. And if so warranted, I will direct a probe,” she said in a text message yesterday.

De Lima was referring to a recommendation of the joint task force on an apparent breach in the LTO database – handled by Stradcom as part of its role as the LTO’s IT provider – which allowed the registration of a non-existent vehicle using altered vehicle records for P10,000.

A report obtained by The STAR showed task force agents staged a test buy to obtain a pair of car plates (ZNE-491) and a genuine LTO official receipt (OR), certificate of registration (CR) and stickers even without the actual vehicle. The test buy was carried out to validate reports that motor vehicle plates surrendered to the LTO and genuine LTO forms are being sold to individuals connected to carjacking and car theft syndicates.

“The plates and forms are then used to support vehicle insurance fraud or to launder stolen or smuggled vehicles,” the report added.

When the plates were initially checked through the LTO’s short messaging system (SMS) verification program, the response stated that the plates were supposed to have been issued to a white Toyota Avanza 1.3 J 2008 model, registered last Jan. 28, with neither LTO apprehension nor alarm records.

“A set of stickers was likewise obtained. The altered data on the OR/CR were then used as basis for a contact inside the LTO office who has access to the LTO database to edit the entries corresponding to the plates. Thereafter, vehicle insurance was applied for and issued,” according to the report.

The report stated that a day after the plates and the OR/CR were obtained, another check was made through the LTO SMS verification system and the response was that the ZNE-491 plate belongs to a red Toyota model 1.5 G 2009 model. The database printed out the latest information.

The task force specifically recommended that Transportation and Communication Secretary Jose de Jesus to conduct an investigation to determine the culpability of LTO personnel who may be involved in the unauthorized release of car plates and LTO forms.

It was the DOJ that investigated the failed takeover of the Stradcom facility at the LTO compound in December 2010 after De Jesus referred the probe to De Lima.

President Aquino had ordered a thorough investigation of carjacking and car theft incidents after the murder of car traders Emerson Lozano and Venson Evangelista and Lozano’s co-employee, Ernani Sensil, in January.