The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued a warning to motorists against the use of the "Takip Plaka" method, where license plates are deliberately covered or tampered with to avoid penalties under the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP), emphasizing that this act is a serious violation and may be linked to criminal activities, carrying severe legal consequences.
In the interview with Dos Por Dos, LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza revealed that the LTO has observed an increase in cases of license plates being deliberately obscured or altered using new methods.
“Sadyang tinatakpan yung iba naman may bagong teknolohiya na yata, may stray paint yata nila nilalagay,” he said.
This issue has recently been associated with the NCAP, Mendoza emphasized that the danger of obscured plates goes beyond that.
“This goes beyond NCAP, ang NCAP nagkataon andyan lang ‘yan pero oras na ang ating mamamayan simula itong takip plaka ay delikado po ‘yan. Kasi yung mga sasakyan na ginagamit sa paggawa ng krimen ay diyan po natin nahuhuli,” Mendoza stressed.
To counter this, Mendoza reminded the public that covering or tampering with plates is a punishable offense under the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act.
“Ang parusa po ay 6 months and 2 years imprisonment, may multa pong P5,000. Ito ang Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act,” he stated.
Mendoza clarified though originally focused on motorcycles, this law is now being applied on other vehicles.
In response to the surge in online sellers advertising plate covers and tampering tools, Mendoza confirmed that the agency is coordinating with Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Division to remove advertisements selling on Facebook and other platforms.
Meanwhile, Mendoza discussed that they are now working with the new online system to speed up vehicle ownership transfers.
“Nadraft na po ito, at for approval na lang ng DOTr online filing po yan we have minimize the documentary requirement para hindi po gaano mahirap tapos i-pafile online,” Mendoza reiterated.
He also reassured vehicle owners with incomplete or missing documents that the agency will provide alternative documents to be used to prove rightful ownership of the vehicle.
