LTO probes 160 clinics for anomalous medical certificate issuances

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Saturday said it will issue show cause orders against 160 medical clinics across the country over alleged anomalous issuance of medical certificates.

LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said in a statement that the agency has started an investigation on the 160 clinics after they received reports “that the erring LTO-accredited medical clinics are engaged in non-appearance issuance of medical certificates.”

Mendoza said all the 160 medical clinics nationwide will start receiving show cause orders this week.

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“It is clear that even if you do not get checked up at these clinics, as long as you are willing to pay, you will be issued medical certificates. This is not right and we assure you that we will pursue them,” Mendoza said.

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The LTO chief said they are now preparing necessary administrative and criminal charges against the clinics involved, including the signatory physicians to the non-appearance medical certificates.

“I have already ordered the respective regional directors to retrieve all the medical certificates issued by these medical clinics and to inform those who were issued with driver’s license through questionable medical certificates to explain,” Mendoza said.

“If evidence warrants, we will revoke the accreditation of these medical clinics and impose a lifetime ban against them for any transaction with the LTO in the future,” he added. /cb