Two corrupt MMDA men fall

Two deputized traffic enforcers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority were arrested while extorting money from police anti-kidnapping agents in Novaliches, Quezon City the other day.

Nabbed were traffic enforcers Pepito Busto, 50, of Pabahay 2000, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and Onzemio Belga, 38, of Teranova Royal II, Bagombong, Caloocan City.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Director Nestorio Gualberto, said the arrest of the two mulcting traffic enforcers came shortly after CIDG agents conducted anti-kidnapping rescue operations in the vicinity of Barangay Maligaya, Novaliches.

"My men have already rescued a 17-year-old lass abducted by her boyfriend last week. While leaving the place for Camp Crame, they were flagged down by the suspects for an alleged traffic violation along Quirino Highway," Gualberto said.

After they were stopped, the suspects, apparently drunk, immediately asked for the license of the driver of the owner-type jeep they had flagged down.

The policeman-driver, who was in civilian clothes, handed his license to the suspects who in turn hinted that they will simply let him go in exchange for a P1,500 cash, apparently not knowing that they were dealing with Camp Crame’s anti-kidnapping police unit.

Superintendent Gilbert Sosa, the team leader, said his group haggled for P500, which the suspects eventually accepted.

And when one of MMDA men accepted the P500 bribe, the two were caught off-guard when occupants of the owner-type jeep and those on board several cars tailing it, accosted and handcuffed them.

"When one of them received the money, my men placed them under arrest," Sosa said.

The duo are now detained at the CIDG detention cell for robbery-extortion charges.