Four LTO enforcers face charges in court

CEBU, Philippines — The Office of the City Prosecutor in Tagbilaran City, Bohol has indicted the four enforcers of the Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas who were earlier arrested in an entrapment operation by the National Bureau of Investigation for allegedly mulcting money from a tour operator.

Associate City Prosecutor Glena Rose Alejado-Lim has found probable cause to hold Gaylord Pacaña, Bernard Jamorol, Walter John Yncierto, and Jose Christian Hembra for trial for robbery extortion and anti-graft charges.

“This Office, upon careful perusal of the records of the case, is satisfied of the existence of probable cause justifying the arrest of the respondents for extorting money from Abraham J. Dante in exchange for the release of the registration papers of his transport van and the driver’s license of Rosendo Magan, Jr.,” read the omnibus resolution of the prosecutor’s office.

On November 28, 2018, operatives of the NBI district office in Bohol conducted an entrapment operation against the four accused because of the complaint of Dante. The accused were caught in the act of receiving the P10,000 marked-money they allegedly demanded from the complainant.

Dante said his driver, Magan, was apprehended by the enforcers in Tawala, Panglao, Bohol. The enforcers confiscated the registration papers and the license of the driver for allegedly operating a colorum vehicle.

Dante said he was told that the vehicle would be impounded and that a penalty of P200,000 will be imposed on him. The enforcers allegedly offered to help him in exchange for P10,000, thus, an entrapment.

The prosecutor said that it was clearly established that the enforcers were intimidating the complainant to cough up the amount they were demanding from him.

“The undersigned is convinced that there is intimidation by the respondents on Dante inasmuch as the acts of the respondents engendered fear in the mind of the victim and hindered the free exercised of his free will,” the resolution read.

The prosecutor’s office recommended P150,000 bail for each accused for their temporary liberty. (FREEMAN)