THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) will investigate the abnormal increase in  motor-vehicle registration in port cities cited in news reports as car-smuggling havens. 

Assistant Secretary Alberto Suansing, LTO chief, said that if the reports were true, then the agency would leave no stone unturned to stop the anomaly.

“If heads are to roll, then so be it,” added Suansing, who was reacting to reports that LTO personnel are in cahoots with car smugglers.

Suansing also ordered strict coordination with the Bureau of Customs-Intelligence and Enforcement Group (BOC-IEG) to stop motor-vehicle smuggling.

The new modus operandi of car smugglers, which involves shifting the areas of operation, does not guarantee that motor-vehicle smuggling cannot be stopped.       

“Eventually, the long arm of the law will catch up with them. We will not allow these criminals to make a mockery of the government’s efforts to curb smuggling.”

He noted, however, that the government is gaining in the fight against smuggling.

He cited the fact that the LTO has an existing interconnectivity agreement with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) under which imported vehicles will not be registered with the LTO unless the proper duties and taxes have been paid. With the interconnectivity system in place, certificates of payment from the BOC shall be electronically transmitted to the LTO, eliminating opportunities for fraudulent activities pertaining to the importation of vehicles. The system has undergone thorough testing and implementation is expected to take effect next month.

Suansing highlighted the fact that the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) has lauded the government’s efforts to curb the illegal entry of used cars that resulted in the growth in the sales of motor vehicles in the country. The AmCham said that in the first four months of 2008, auto sales in the country reached nearly 40,000 units. Total industry sales in 2007 were 117,903 units compared with 99,541 units in 2006, an 18.4-percent growth in sales volume. Suansing also hinted that the LTO might actively participate in the RATS (Run After The Smugglers) program of the government.

“With a more coordinated thrust among all the concerned line agencies, the public can be assured that the government will win this fight,” Suansing said.

‘Princess’ salvager can only start by August

THE appointed salvager of the overturned MV Princess of the Stars needs a few more weeks before it can start retrieval operations of the cargo and tons of fuel still inside the vessel, as the government hopes no storm comes during the waiting period.

H1 Index crimes dip, but total rate up

THE National Police reported on Sunday that index crimes went down in the past six months although non-index crimes slightly increased.

LTO probes ‘abnormal’ hike in car registration

THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) will investigate the abnormal increase in  motor-vehicle registration in port cities cited in news reports as car-smuggling havens. 

Troops rescue 2 kidnap victims in Basilan

Task force to secure ARMM elections’

ZAMBOANGA CITY—The Armed Forces has activated Task Force Halalan 2008-ARMM to ensure free, honest, peaceful and credible elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on August 11.

Negros solon asks SC to set oral arguments on election case

LAKAS Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong of Negros Oriental has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to set for oral argument the consolidated cases filed before it questioning her election as a member of Congress.

Great ole cooking from the US of A

WHEN one thinks of American cooking, the images of stars, stripes and apple pie readily come to mind. 

In reality, there’s more to it than that, as demonstrated during the Great American Food Festival, entitled “America, the bountiful,” recently held at the Glorietta Mall Activity Center in Makati.