MMDA personnel nabbed for alleged extortion

MANILA, Philippines — An employee of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) was nabbed for alleged extortion, the agency reported on Saturday.

The MMDA said Jomar Palata, 40, was arrested in an entrapment operation conducted by the Highway Patrol Group on Friday night in Pasig City.

Palata, who misrepresented himself as a law enforcement agent of the Land Transportation Office, tried to extort money from a complainant.

“The victim said that on April 28, Palata threatened her that he will apprehend all the commuter vans she owned if she refused to give bribe money amounting to P100,000,” the MMDA said in a statement.

Palata is currently assigned at the MMDA’s Office of the Assistant General Manager for Operations.

He is currently detained and is facing robbery, extortion, grave coercion, and usurpation of authority charges.

Meanwhile, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes reminded the public that legitimate apprehensions coming from the MMDA should only be settled at its Redemption Center in Makati or in authorized online payment channels such as Landbank and Bayad.

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/MUF