Senate Committee on Public Services Chairperson Raffy Tulfo urged the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to require all those renewing their vehicle registration to personally appear at the LTO branch and submit their valid government IDs.
“Marami nang natanggap na sumbong ang Raffy Tulfo in Action (RTIA) kung saan hirap ang mga awtoridad na tukuyin ang gumamit ng sasakyang sangkot sa krimen o aksidente dahil matagal na palang naibenta ito pero nakapangalan pa rin sa unang owner,” Tulfo said.
The legislator cited as an example an RTIA case regarding the Silver Mitsubishi Montero Sport with license plate PEO-987 that was used by suspected budol-budol gang members to victimize a cancer patient on June 10. Until now, its driver has not been identified because the car has been sold to different people through an “open deed of sale.”
“Common practice na kasi ngayon lalo na sa buy and sell, na bibili ng sasakyan ang isang tao at hindi muna ito nirerehistro dahil ibebenta niya rin ito, bukod pa diyan ay para makatipid siya,” the lawmaker explained.
“Nagagamit ng mga kawatan ang sasakyang binili para sa mga modus nila.”
“Sa ganitong practice, malakas ang loob ng mga driver na takbuhan ang kanilang responsibilidad sakaling may aksidenteng nangyari sa daan. Gayundin, nagagamit ng mga kawatan ang sasakyang binili para sa mga modus nila,” the senator added.
As such, he is set to file a bill to require owners to register their vehicle to LTO ten days from the date of purchase If the owner failed to comply, his vehicle shall be impounded immediately.
Tulfo explained that such regulation is not new as it is being practiced in different states in the US.
“There is an anti-fixer provision in my bill in which when a fixer is caught in an LTO unit, the director in said office will be immediately fired from the position on 1st offense.”
He also proposed adding an “anti-fixer” provision in his bill in which when a fixer is caught in an LTO unit, the director in said office will be immediately fired from the position on 1st offense.
Lastly, Tulfo called on all car owners who bought secondhand cars that are yet to be registered under their names to visit the nearest LTO office to have it transferred to the right name immediately for their safety and security as well.
