INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Two non-commissioned police officers and their buddy were arrested in Bacoor City, Cavite, for allegedly extorting approximately P1.5 million monthly payment from various transport groups, according to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
CIDG identified the two police officers of Bacoor City Police Station as Senior Master Sergeant Joselito Bugay and Staff Sergeant Dave Gregor, along with the collector of these monthly payments, John Louie De Leon.
The three were collared on Tuesday morning by CIDG operatives at a gas station along Molino Road, Barangay Molino, during an entrapment operation, which stemmed from multiple complaints from various transport groups, as revealed by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr.
“These individuals stand accused of collecting monthly payments known as “payola” from tricycle operators, driver associations, and other transport groups; it is estimated that the amount collected is around P1.5 million per month with an average of 130,000 per transport group,” Acorda told reporters in a press briefing on Wednesday.
Since February this year, CIDG director Maj. Gen. Romeo Caramat said suspects were collecting these payments used as “protection money,” allegedly shielding operators and drivers from being caught for any traffic violations.
Bugay purportedly wanted to raise the groups’ monthly payment from P130,000 to P170,000; however, transport groups could no longer sustain paying the police officers, prompting them to seek help from the PNP chief.
Arrested individuals are currently under CIDG Southern Metro Manila District Field Unit Office for documentation and proper disposition, while another suspect, Edralin Gawaran, head of Bacoor Traffic Management Department, remains at large.