Traffic cop nabbed for alleged extortion

CEBU, Philippines - A Lapu-Lapu City traffic enforcer was arrested during an entrapment operation last Sunday afternoon for allegedly extorting money from the driver of a dive shop in Maribago.

Silvestre Ponce, 28, a resident of Barangay Agus was caught in the act of receiving the P5,000 he allegedly demanded from Virgilio Cempron.

Ponce apprehended Cempron at 2 p.m. yesterday in sitio Bagumbayan, Barangay Maribago for alleged colorum operation. Colorum is the term used for operating a vehicle for hire without a franchise from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

Cempron was driving a Starex Van owned by PSI Leports Inc., a diving shop in Maribago, when the suspect flagged him down. The suspect confiscated the driver’s license of Cempron, vehicle’s registration and the plate number.

Ponce allegedly demanded P17,000 from the complainant to claim his license, vehicle’s plate and the certificate of registration. Cempron informed his employer of what had happened and started to haggle for the amount demanded by the suspect while coordinating with the police at the same time.

Cempron was able to bring down the demand to P5,000 and agreed to deliver the money on that same afternoon. Unknown to Ponce, Cempron was already escorted by the operatives of the Regional Special Operations Group led by Chief Insp. George Ylanan when he delivered the money.

After Ponce received the money which was previously marked with fluorescent powder, he was immediately placed under arrest. The suspect refused to comment on his arrest.

He is currently detained at the Police Regional Office- 7 lock-up cell and will face a criminal complaint for robbery-extortion.— FPL (FREEMAN)