Manila cracks down on ‘University of Recto’

The Manila city government has finally started cracking down on the so-called University of Recto.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, who personally led a police raid along C.M. Recto, scolded vendors caught selling fake official public documents from permits to diplomas to passports.

"Lagyan ng posas ang mga yan," Estrada said in a report on "24 Oras" Monday.

Estrada, a former Philippine president who had also served as mayor of San Juan City, said the Manila city government loses millions of pesos due to fake documents like business or sanitary permits.

Aside from fake permits, a raid on the vendors' stalls yielded fake passports, bank checks, voters' IDs, health and death certificates.

Surveillance videos taken by Manila Police District personnel showed some "agents" of the vendors sealing deals with prospective clients.

Once a deal is reached, that would be the time the vendors print the fake documents.

Following the raid, Estrada said the city government will place security measures on some City Hall documents to make them difficult if not impossible to fake.

He also said they will be stricter in watching out for vendors engaged in faking documents along Recto Avenue.

On the other hand, the vendors denied the allegations against them, with one saying she was merely a vendor who passed by the area.

Still, MPD district directorial staff head Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz said those arrested will be charged with falsification of public documents.

MPD investigation showed fake drivers' licenses can be bought for P1,000 while official receipts for vehicles also sell for P1,000.

Fake mayor's permits, meanwhile, can sell for P1,500 while fake sanitary permits are sold at similar rates. —Joel Locsin/KBK, GMA News