MANILA – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Friday issued temporary suspension orders against 12 private emission testing centers (PETC) for allegedly faking emission results and the presence of their customers during testing.
In a statement, LTO Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID) Officer-in-Charge Renan Melintante said the 12 PETCs were caught after the emission results they uploaded to the LTO image repository database server (IRDS) was found to be fake or deliberately changed.
He said the LTO has issued a show cause order to the IT providers of the 12 PETCs to have them explain why their accreditation should not be revoked for their role as accomplices to the crime.
“Mahigpit na pinagbabawalan ang mga PETC na mag-upload sa LTO IRDS ng peke, binago, o minanipulang webcam na kuhang larawan ng sasakyan at technician upang palabasin na sumalang sa inspeksyon ang sasakyang ipinarerehistro (PETCs are strictly forbidden from uploading to the LTO IRDS fake, changed, or manipulated webcam-shot photos to make it seem that an inspection was conducted for the vehicle being registered),” he said.
LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Jose Arturo Tugade said such actions are clear-cut attempts to fool the government by allowing the registration of vehicles with “non-appearance” customers.
“Kung ganito na pinalulusot dahil sa bayad na non-appearance inspection, napaka-delikadong magdulot ito ng aksidente at malagay sa panganib hindi lang ang drayber at pasahero kundi ng iba pang mga taong nasa lansangan (Allowing non-appearance inspections is very dangerous due to possible accidents stemming from non-compliant vehicles. It will put the lives of the driver and passengers in danger as well others in the streets),” Tugade said.
He assured the public that the LTO will continue to monitor and penalize erring PETCs that offer such services. (PNA)
