Three convicted for fake driving course certificate

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ILOILO CITY — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) got another landmark legal win after the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) here convicted three individuals for falsifying a Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) certificate.

In a 13-page ruling dated May 23, Judge Enrique Trespeces of MTCC Branch 10 found former Triple M Driving School personnel Maricel Debuno Garino, Ma. Kristina Berbulla Daanoy, and instructor Juffrey Doctolero Fuertes guilty of falsifying private documents under Article 172(2) in connection with Article 171(4) of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act 10951.

Each was sentenced to up to three years in prison and fined P3,000.

Prosecutors proved that on Dec. 14, 2022, the three conspired to issue a fake TDC certificate to applicant James Galve, falsely certifying that he had completed the mandatory 15-hour course.

Galve testified that Garino approached him outside the LTO Region 6 (LTO-6) office, offering to "fast-track" his application for P2,000 without attending the required training and was then directed to Triple M Driving School.

After learning the TDC was supposed to be free of charge, he reported the incident to former LTO-6 assistant director Atty. Gaudioso Geduspan II, triggering an entrapment operation that led to the trio's arrest and the school's immediate shutdown.

The accused all pleaded not guilty, according to the local court.

Garino denied being connected to the school, while Daanoy admitted performing clerical work but claimed she assumed Galve would eventually attend the course. Fuertes, the driving instructor, denied any role in issuing the fake certificate.

However, Trespeces dismissed their defenses, pointing to their coordinated roles in carrying out the offense.

"Garino lured the applicant, Daanoy prepared the paperwork and received the payment, and Fuertes finalized the certificate," the decision read.

"Each performed specific acts with such precise coordination, showing a common design to commit the offense," it added.

The court upheld the legality of the entrapment operation and gave significant weight to evidence including the falsified certificate and payment documentation.

Geduspan, who is now the LTO-6 regional director, said the court's decision is a milestone in the fight against corruption in the licensing process.

"This conviction sends a strong message that the LTO will not tolerate any breach of procedures by accredited driving schools," he said.

As of May this year, LTO-6 has recorded 23 arrests and 19 convictions related to the falsification of official documents.

"This decision strengthens our resolve to weed out unscrupulous actors and protect the integrity of our systems," Geduspan added.