2 MMDA enforcers, 1 other nabbed for extortion

MMDA traffic enforcers, Pasay traffic enforcer nabbed for extortion. /Pasay police

MANILA, Philippines — Two traffic enforcers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and an employee of Pasay City Traffic were arrested after extorting money from a van driver along Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City on Thursday morning.

Police identified the MMDA traffic enforcers as Jovelino Cayetano, 35, and Rogelio Acebuche, while the Pasay City traffic enforcer was Romualdo Aggabao, 53.

The arrest came after Daryl Warde, 24, told police that he was passing by Macapagal Boulevard in Barangay 76 when the suspects, who were wearing their respective uniforms, extorted P200,000 worth of cash from him despite not getting any traffic tickets.

Cpl. Bryan Diaz, Cpl. Francis Suriaga, and Pat. Kevin Javier of Pasay police station spotted the suspects in the area and immediately apprehended them at around 12:15 a.m.

Pasay police chief Bernard Yang told INQUIRER.net that the suspects previously extorted P100,000 from Warde, claiming that the victim owned an unauthorized passenger van.

Yang said the van was allegedly used as transport service for Chinese nationals working for a business process outsourcing (BPO) firm.

The suspects were taken to the Pasay police station for investigation and filing of appropriate charges. /je