2 LTO Employees & Security Guard Dismissed From Post Due to Alleged Extortion
Two employees of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and a security guard were fired over extortion allegations.
Recently, the Facebook page “Land Transportation Office – Philippines” reported that two LTO employees and a security guard have been removed from their posts after they were accused of extorting money from jeepney drivers and operators.
The issue was discovered after several individuals reported that the group had been asking for payment in exchange for the release of their impounded vehicles.
LTO Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao ordered their immediate dismissal after the complainants personally appeared in his office last Friday (December 5, 2025).
The drivers pointed to the employees and the security guard as those who allegedly demanded cash to speed up the release of their vehicles, which had been impounded due to various traffic violations.
An internal inquiry later confirmed that the two staff members belonged to the agency’s Traffic Safety Division. They, along with the security guard, were also accused of accepting money from drivers who wanted to pass the required examination following the mandatory seminar.
The exam is part of the official process that drivers must undergo before retrieving their vehicles.
Lacanilao emphasized that this kind of behavior has no place in the agency. Since assuming office, one of the key points in his agenda has been the promotion of honest service and the complete removal of corruption.
The official has repeatedly stressed that the LTO must serve the public properly and should never become a venue for negotiations or backdoor deals.
Markus directed the agency’s Intelligence and Investigation Division to look deeper into the incident and to monitor similar activities within the LTO. He reminded all employees that the agency will remain firm in cleansing its ranks, ensuring that dishonest practices are stopped and accountability is upheld.
He also encouraged LTO personnel to focus on providing genuine service, saying that the agency’s credibility depends on their actions.
The social media users expressed their reactions to the post:
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