NBI nabs college student for alleged fake IDs

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Land Transportation Office Eastern Visayas arrested a 20-year-old college student in an entrapment operation in Sogod, Southern Leyte last November 22, 2021.
According to the NBI the suspect was allegedly caught selling fake government-issued IDs such as the Land Transportation Office (LTO) driver’s license. This was confirmed by Ruben A. Carsido, Head of the LTO Sogod Extension Office. Authorities later identified the apprehended person as a resident of Barangay Zone 5, Sogod, Southern Leyte.
In an uploaded video footage, the suspect was seen interviewed by a government radio employee, which further showed the suspect claiming that she was merely contacted by a certain person from Manila who issues driver’s licenses. She reportedly said that a driver’s license cost P8,000 to P10,000 pesos, where she would get a commission of P500 pesos per transaction.
Legal pundits though claim that the video admission allegedly made by the suspect could be questioned as inadmissible, as it was made before government authorities and seemingly without a lawyer present. They claim the evidence could be challenged as a “fruit of the poisonous tree”.
Some of the suspect’s reported clients complained that their names couldn’t be found in the LTO system, which caused them to report to the authorities.
As reported, NBI Region-8 Executive Officer Atty. Arselito Albao, during the entrapment operation, offered the suspect P11,000 for her to issue to him a valid driver’s license.
“Sa karon ang mismong babaye nakapyansa, ug kung siya mapamatud-an sa korte nga nakasala ma priso siya ug 6-12 years sa prisohan,” LTO’s Ruben Carsido further explained.
Law enforcement informed the press that the suspect might be charged for violation of the “Anti-Fixers Act” and Falsification of Public Documents.