2 MMDA men nabbed by QC cops for ‘kotong’

Two traffic constables of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority were arrested in an entrapment operation after a driver of a public utility vehicle complained that they asked for money in exchange for his confiscated license plate.

In a report by the Quezon City Police District’s Project 4 station, Noel Galang and Salvador Sison were arrested for robbery-extortion at the corner of Katipunan and Boni Serrano Avenues around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Another suspect, Randy Florida, also of the MMDA, managed to escape.

The arrest stemmed from the complaint filed by driver Teodorico Basas, in the MMDA Security Intelligence and Investigation Division. Basas, who drives a commuter van, alleged that the three traffic marshals asked him to cough up P3,000 in exchange for his license plate around noon Wednesday.

The MMDA men flagged him down supposedly for going out of line or plying outside his authorized route, according to Project 4 station commander Supt. Danilo Pecana.

As part of the entrapment operation, Basas went to a gasoline station where the three traffic enforcers were waiting. He handed the marked money worth P2,500 to Sison.

The suspects then left on motorcycles but they were chased by a mobile police team, who eventually caught up with Sison and Galang.

With the money recovered to serve as evidence, Sison and Galang were subjected to inquest proceedings and remained in detention as of Friday. Erika Sauler