Traffic enforcer arrested for extortion

MANILA, Philippines — A member of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau was arrested on Saturday for allegedly extorting P8,500 from the owner of an impounded truck, a police official said yesterday.

Rolando Toquero, alias Roy, 39, was nabbed by agents of the Regional Special Operations Unit of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) after allegedly accepting the marked money from Teodorico Gervacio.

Toquero, along with his cohorts Romy Maniquez, owner of the RWM Towing Services, and an alias Maloy, will be charged with robbery and extortion before the Manila prosecutor’s office today, according to NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar.

Eleazar said Jhuren Galvez, driver of an Isuzu 10-wheeler truck, was apprehended by Maloy for beating the red light and driving without a driver’s license.

During the confrontation, Galvez presented an ordinance violation receipt (OVR) issued by the Traffic Management Department in Bacoor, Cavite on June 11.

Maloy did not issue an OVR and instead brought the truck to the RWM impounding area located along Quezon Boulevard in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Toquero allegedly demanded P10,000 from Galvez for the release of the truck.

Galvez called up Gervacio, who negotiated with the suspects to lower the demand to P8,500.