Land Transportation Office-Central Visayas Regional Director Victor Emmanuel Caindec. (PNA file photo by John Rey Saavedra)
CEBU CITY – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has slapped a PHP300,000 fine against a Cebu-based motorcycle distribution company for violating regulations on accreditation and reporting of stocks.
In a statement, the LTO in Central Visayas (Region 7) said three branches of Des Strong Motors Inc. in Cebu province -- two in Danao City and one in Toledo City -- were the subject of the fine for violating Administrative Order No. AVT-2014-023.
A decision signed by LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante dated Feb. 24 was released by LTO-7 on Monday which slapped the company with fine because of “various infractions/violations” of Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, in relation to the said administrative order.
Galvante said the company violated the said rules and regulations for releasing an unregistered motorcycle unit; failure to register the unit within seven days after the date of sale; and for committing fraud, misrepresentation, misreporting and submission of fraudulent sales periodic reports.
The case stemmed from an incident on March 4, 2020 when a motorcycle owner identified as Nick Salaritan was apprehended for having no plate attached and for failure to carry his certificate of registration and official receipt. Salaritan’s motorcycle unit was acquired from the said company.
“A show cause order was thereafter transmitted to Dr. Silvestre A. Lumampas Jr., president of Des Strong Motors Inc. by (LTO) Region 7, however, from the records, no reply (from the company) was received,” Galvante’s decision read.
The LTO head said the decision came after reviewing the supporting documents submitted including two different sales invoices for the unit bought by Salaritan and his affidavit.
On Thursday last week, LTO-7 regional director Victor Emmanuel Caindec said the Office of the City Prosecutor in Mandaue City recommended the filing of an Information for nine counts of falsification of commercial documents by private individual under Article 172 paragraph 1 of the Revised Penal Code against the seven employees of the said company and several other “John Does”
Caindec said the complaint he filed “averred that respondents, conspiring and confederating with each other, falsified the commercial documents that were submitted/uploaded to the Land Transportation Office Do-It-Yourself System.”
There were nine different invoices submitted to support the said complaint. (PNA)
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