MANILA, Philippines — The chief of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Bustos, Bulacan was arrested, along with a suspected fixer during an entrapment operation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).

In a belated report emailed on Wednesday to The Manila Times, the combined NBI and ARTA team collared LTO-Bustos head Carlito Diala Calingo and a certain Michael Santos Mendoza, said to be a known fixer.

ARTA Director-General Ernesto Perez said his agency coordinated with the NBI after it received reports about the alleged rampant fixing activity in the processing of driver's license applications at the LTO-Bustos branch.

Reports showed Calingo and Mendoza were arrested last week right at the LTO branch in the Bulacan town.

Calingo was reportedly caught with Mendoza demanding P7,000 for a driver's license renewal without undergoing the proper process and standard procedures.

Their arrest followed after they were caught ordering a staff member to proceed with the fixed application, the ARTA chief said.

In accordance with Republic Act (RA) 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act Section 9, it is stated that a public officer who has entered a contract or transaction on behalf of the government that manifested grossly disadvantageous is a violator.

Also, under the RA 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business Law of 2018, Section 4 (e), any individual, regardless of whether or not affiliated with a government agency or office, that assists in speedy completion of transactions for personal monetary gains, or any other advantage or consideration, also known as a fixer, enables corruption and promotes red tape.

ARTA, through its Investigation Enforcement and Litigation Office (IELO), recommended the prosecution of Calingo and his cohort for violating the laws.

"Evidence from the entrapment operation was collected, supported by witness statements from the Bulacan LTO employees corroborating the illegal activities of Calingo and will be used as a basis for the formal filing of charges," Perez said.

ARTA and NBI previously signed a memorandum of agreement in June 2024, formalizing their partnership aimed at improving the ease of doing business in the country.

As agreed, NBI would assist ARTA in the conduct of investigations and entrapment operations on violations involving fixing, bribery, and other similar offenses.