Malabon city: Eleven individuals were arrested, and at least 70 fake vehicle license plates were seized in three separate law enforcement operations against fake vehicle plate manufacturing operations in Malabon City, Manila, and Davao City on Sept. 2 to 3, the police said Wednesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) chief, Maj. Gen. Robert Morico II, stated that on Sept. 2, the CIDG Anti-Organized Crime Unit (AOCU), in collaboration with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Intelligence and Investigation Division and Malabon City Police Station, executed an entrapment operation in Barangay Tugatog, Malabon City. This operation led to the arrest of two female suspects and the confiscation of four pairs of counterfeit motor vehicle license plates, pressing machines used to manufacture motor vehicle plates, assorted vehicle plates in bundle and scrap, and materials used in their manufacture.

Morico further detailed that during a follow-up operation on Sept. 3, the CIDG AOCU and LTO apprehended three suspects and seized fake license plates, improvised assorted acrylic plates, a computer monitor, keyboard, central processing unit, automatic voltage regulator, and other materials for manufacturing fake plates, in Barangay 649, Baseco, Port Area, Manila.

Simultaneously, CIDG - Davao City, in conjunction with representatives of the regional LTO office, conducted operations along Quezon Boulevard in Davao City on the same day. This action resulted in the arrest of six suspects and the seizure of 66 pieces of improvised vehicle/motorcycle license plates, along with tools and materials used in their manufacture.

Under Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, no person is permitted to make or attempt to make or use a driver's license, badge, certificate of registration, number plate, tag, or permit in imitation or similitude of those issued under this law. Morico emphasized that falsifying LTO documents poses significant risks to public safety, national security, and the integrity of government records.

Counterfeit documents are deemed 'potentially deadly' as they directly compromise public safety by allowing unqualified individuals and unsafe vehicles onto the road. The CIDG reassured the public of its commitment to protecting the integrity of government-issued documents and vehicle registration systems and vowed to continue pursuing individuals involved in the manufacture, sale, and use of counterfeit LTO documents and other fraudulent schemes.