ANTI-MOTORCYCLE THEFT. Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. (center) witnesses the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the Philippine National Police and Land Transportation Office at a Parañaque City hotel on Thursday (Sept. 26, 2024). The information and communications technology pact seeks to address motorcycle theft cases. (Photo courtesy of (DILG)
MANILA – An alliance between the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will reduce motorcycle theft cases in the country.
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. said Friday the signing of an agreement by PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil and LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza will interconnect their information and communications technology (ICT) systems.
Data showed motorcycle theft cases have reached an alarming number of 30,000 annually.
Under the PNP-LTO agreement signed at a Parañaque City hotel Thursday, Abalos said law enforcers can now easily determine if a motorcycle is stolen, which previously took several months to verify.
Through the new scheme, Abalos said the PNP-Highway Patrol Group (HPG) will have access to the LTO ICT system on the records of motorcycles which they are investigating or have placed under alarm.
Abalos said PNP-HPG officers will be stationed at the LTO Command Center in Quezon City to facilitate access to information such as the details on the certificate of registration and official receipt of a particular vehicle.
“Kasama rin dito ang tala ng registration history ukol sa transfer of ownership at encumbrance at iba pang kailangan sa imbestigasyon (This also includes the details of the registration history pertaining to the transfer of ownership and encumbrance and other information needed in the investigation),’’ Abalos said in a news release.
Abalos said the PNP will allow the LTO to validate the motorcycle vehicle clearance certificate to ensure that the registrations are authentic. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
