Land Transportation Office Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II on Tuesday ordered the filing of appropriate criminal charges against a man who allegedly posed as an enforcer of an agency to extort money from motorists in Cubao, Quezon City.
At the same time, Mendoza urged all victims of Jurdinito Rid Macula to cooperate with the Quezon City Police District investigators to strengthen the cases that would be filed against him.
Macula was apprehended at around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, by a motorist who smelled something fishy after the former refused to show his identification card and failed to prove that he was allowed to be on duty at night.
Macula reportedly claimed that he is an LTO enforcer assigned to the National Capital Region and flagged down the victim for allegedly using an unauthorized side mirror.
LTO-National Capital Region Regional Director Roque Verzosa III said the verification he made with the roster of all employees revealed that Macula is not in any way connected with the LTO.
“All the possible charges will be filed againts him,” an angry Mendoza said after learning of the incident.
All the possible charges will be filed against him. An angry Mendoza said after learning of the incident.
“I assure you that this person will answer for besmirching the LTO reputation. I will personally follow this case because I want to give this person a lesson.”
“We have been conducting aggressive operations against fixers and we are putting all systems in place to deny any opportunity for corruption in the agency. We will not allow this impostor to destroy the name LTO,” he added.
Mendoza urged motorists to immediately report any extortion and other illegal activities being conducted using the name of the LTO, whether the perpetrator is an imposter or an employee of the agency.
“We do not tolerate any form of illegal activity. So I am urging all our motorists to immediately inform us about any illegal activity and I assure you of our immediate action,” Mendoza said.
Macula is now detained at the QCPD Station 7 in Cubao and facing criminal charges, including the usurpation of authority.