By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz

TRAFFIC STOP. A Land Transportation Office-Calabarzon personnel during a traffic stop in this undated photo. The LTO has apprehended a total of 18,882 motor vehicles in March 2025 as part of its continuing campaign against unregistered or ‘colorum’ vehicles across the country. (Photo courtesy of LTO Calabarzon)

MANILA – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has apprehended a total of 18,882 motor vehicles in March as part of its continuing campaign against unregistered or ‘colorum’ vehicles across the country.

The campaign is in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to maximize efforts to protect all road users.

In a statement on Wednesday, LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said the owners of each vehicle are fined with a standing penalty of PHP10,000.

“We have been making our presence felt on the roads across the country. And this will be more aggressive once our enforcers complete the refresher courses that we have been conducting,” he said.

“We are appealing to our motorists to make sure that the registration of their motor vehicles are updated because once you are caught, you will surely shell out more money because you will have to pay the fines and penalties.”

According to LTO data, most of the vehicles apprehended were motorcycles at 11,437, tricycles at 3,315, vans at 2,056, and private cars at 1,059.

Most of the apprehensions were made in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon. (PNA)