BY JEL SANTOS
A traffic enforcer of the Makati Public Safety Department (PSD), who allegedly extorted money from motorists, was arrested by policemen during an entrapment operation on Monday night.
Major Tyrone Valenzona, assistant chief of police for operations, said the suspect – Roberto Hojas, 46, of Sta. Ana, Manila – was nabbed at the corner of Malugay Street and Buendia Avenue in Barangay Bel-Air, Makati around 7 p.m..
Makati Police Investigation Unit chief Major Daniel Oamil said an undercover policeman handed P500 marked money to Hojas.
“After flagging him down, the suspect asked our undercover police officer to just give him P500 instead of getting a P1,000 citation ticket and his driver’s license confiscated,” he said.
Valenzona said that after handing the marked money to Hojas, the cop raised his hand while inside the vehicle, signaling that the enforcer has already accepted the marked money.
“We then went out and apprehended him. We frisked him during the procedural search and we found the marked money inside his right pocket,” he said.
Valenzona has urged other victims of Hojas to go to Makati Central Police Station and file charges against him.
“To his other victims, go to the police station and file charges against him. We received reports that he has already victimized many motorists along Buendia Avenue,” Valenzona said.
Hojas is now under the custody of the Makati City Police. (Jel Santos)
