LTO: License means Chinese suspect can speak Filipino

MANILA, Philippines - The Chinese national caught with 10 kilos of shabu over the weekend might have been just lying about not understanding English and Filipino.

This was after the Land Transportation Office (LTO) vouched that Zhen Xu could not have been issued a Philippine driver’s license without understanding English or Filipino.

The Chinese national appeared to not understand anything said by policemen, who arrested him during a drug bust in Quezon City on Friday.

Policemen found a driver’s license with his name.

LTO spokesperson Jason Salvador said Zhen was issued a driver’s license in 2011 by the LTO’s Manila licensing center in Tayuman.

Salvador said the center’s head, Lily Cadores, even claimed to have talked with Zhen.

“He must have been at least conversant in English or Filipino when he was issued the license,” Salvador told The STAR in an interview.

“He could have been just lying when he claimed he could not understand what the policemen were saying or asking,” he added.

Salvador said the Chinese national had a foreign license, which was then “converted” into a Philippine driver’s license when he went to the LTO to apply for it.

Police believe Zhen may be connected to a huge syndicate with “Luzon-wide” operations.

Last Friday’s operation followed another sting in Capas, Tarlac, resulting in the arrest of a father and son, who identified Zhen as their alleged supplier.