This was confirmed by Malou Rosete, monitoring head of the Operations Division.

Rosete said that the emission test center has been operating illegally since 2004 based on their official records. She added that the test center has no LTO authorization to operate as test center.

"Sa record natin, 2004, pa ay wala siyang authorization kaya wala siyang kakayahang mag-operate until now," (Based on our records, the test center has no authorization to operate until now), Rosete said.

She added that the LTO cannot suspend or even revoke the center’s permit because in the first place, the test center has no authority to operate.

LTO Chief Anneli Lontoc has ordered LTO-NCR Director Reynaldo Berroya to check if the illegal emission test center is still operating.

Lontoc also asked Berroya to investigate how the test center got a fake certificate of emission compliance permit.

Based on LTO’s implementing rules and regulations, any emission test centers found operating without LTO authorization for more than one year will be closed.

Earlier, Lontoc challenged critics to prove the allegations that there are anomalies between the LTO and private emission test centers operators association (PETCOA).

Lontoc made the remarks following reports that she favors some emission test centers.

The LTO chief said that his office does not favor any private emission test centers which critics claimed.

Lontoc said that her critics were referring to a specific emission test operator who operates in Metro Manila.

The LTO chief also said that the agency will push through with the interconnectivity program, a project which will rid the country of fly-by-night testing centers.

Lontoc said that the agency has conducted a dry run on the project last month, which they said has proven successful.