Real cops nab fake enforcers

Two more fake Quezon City traffic policemen, believed to be the cohorts of four men who were detained for allegedly extorting money from the daughter of San Juan City’s chief prosecutor, were arrested on Monday night for reportedly pulling the same trick on undercover policemen.

Nicolas Lozada, 38, and Bernie Grageda, 40, were arrested by operatives of the Eastwood police station who posed as motorists.

Quezon City Police District director Chief Supt. Richard Albano said the two were arrested at 11:30 p.m. on Monday on Temple Drive near White Plains, Quezon City, after they accosted an undercover policeman.

Albano said the suspects scolded the undercover officer for not taking the U-turn slot although he was driving on the lane closest to it. They then demanded P300 from him in exchange for letting him go.

“The policeman asked them if they had the proper deputization papers to which the suspect replied no. The other policemen then moved in to arrest them,” he added.

Albano said they were looking for the other cohorts of the fake traffic enforcers who claimed there were 12 of them in the group. The suspects also claimed they were led by a certain Cobarubias who also supplied them with police uniforms and traffic violation tickets.—Julie M. Aurelio