THE LAND Transportation Office in the Davao Region (LTO XI) has raised a red alert for automotive and motorcycle dealerships following a series of extortion attempts by a fraudster impersonating its top official.
In an official statement released on June 25, 2026, LTO XI regional director Atty. Ernesto Raphael V. Robillo condemned the scam, which specifically targets motorcycle dealers, vehicle dealerships, car rental establishments, and other industry stakeholders.
According to the agency, a scammer utilizing the mobile number 0927-747-6944 has been cold-calling business owners, falsely introducing himself as “regional director Ernesto Raphael V. Robillo.”
The impostor uses a specific script, soliciting high-end whiskey, cash, and “financial assistance” under the guise of entertaining arriving VIP visitors from the National Capital Region (NCR).
Unsuspecting victims are then instructed to send the extorted funds digitally. LTO XI flagged a specific mobile wallet account being used to collect the cash:
GCash Number: 0935-017-9279
Account Name: AR..S D. (Alias “Aries”)
“LTO-XI unequivocally declares that these calls, requests, and transactions are fraudulent, illegal, and constitute a clear act of scamming and misrepresentation,” Robillo said in the statement. “Our officials and personnel will NEVER engage in any unlawful solicitation, unauthorized collection of funds, or any activity that compromises the credibility and integrity of the agency.”
The regional office clarified that neither Robillo nor any employee of LTO XI has authorized or directed any form of financial contribution, gifts, or alcoholic beverages from private stakeholders or the general public.
LTO XI warned that these individuals are criminals exploiting the goodwill of the agency’s stakeholders for personal gain.
The agency is currently coordinating with law enforcement bodies, including the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), to initiate surveillance and entrapment operations against “Aries” and any other cohorts involved.
Victims or targets of this specific phone scam are urged to come forward and report the incidents to local authorities immediately to facilitate a swift arrest.
