CEBU, Philippines — A member of Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) was arrested for allegedly extorting money from traffic violators.
Roger Cadutdut was caught Thursday evening in an entrapment operation conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Central Visayas (CIDG Region 7) on MJ Cuenco Avenue in Barangay Carreta, where the suspect was deployed.
He has been working as a traffic enforcer for two years.
He was repeatedly accused of mulcting money from erring motorists by showing them a fake Philippine National Police identification card.
CCTO officer-in-charge Lyntoni Alburo sought the help of CIDG-7 after receiving several complaints against Cadutdut from drivers and a video of the latter demanding money from a motorist.
CIDG-7 chief Ireneo Dalogdog, in a press conference, said the motorist who Cadutdut flagged down for a traffic violation recorded their conversation.
In the video, Cadutdut mentioned several violations and later demanded money from the motorist.
Following the complaint, an undercover cop then pretended as a driver and intentionally committed a traffic violation.
Cadutdut flagged down the undercover police officer and went on to demand P1,000 so that he would not be issued with a citation ticket.
“There was one undercover operative who pretended to be a driver to prove the illegal activity he (Cadutdut) had been doing. As the operation went on, he (Cadutdut) demanded money and he accepted a 1000 mark money (from the undercover cop). He did not even issue a citation ticket,” Dalogdog said.
Alburo said the suspect had been warned by his co-workers about the said video.
The CCTO chief said he did not expect that Cadutdut would commit it again.
“Nobody is exempted. If they commit that kind of action, they will be penalized,” said Alburo.
The suspect will face a complaint of Robbery with Violence Against Intimidation of Persons or violation of Article 294 of Revised Penal Code.
For claiming as a cop, Cadutdut may also be slapped with additional charges for usurpation of authority.
Alburo hopes that Cadutdut’s arrest will serve as an eye opener for the rest of CCTO workers.
She said CCTO will launch a Facebook page or a hotline so that motorists can easily report erring traffic enforcers.
“We will be launching a hotline or Facebook Page called ‘Itug-an ni OIC traffic’ where victims and complainants can report through text or can post their photo or video as evidence against traffic enforcers who are involved in illegal activity,” she said. — Dominic I. Dilao, UV Intern, KQD (FREEMAN)