By Aaron Recuenco
A traffic policeman in Pasig City was arrested for demanding a monthly protection money from the operator of a terminal for aircon passenger vans.
Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat, head of the Counter-Intelligence Task Force (CITF), said the operation stemmed from the complaint of a barker (passenger caller) who said that SPO1 Adonis Corpus is demanding P1,000 every 15th and 30th day of the month.
“The money is allegedly for protection of the terminal in Rosario, Pasig City. The policeman allegedly even harassed and threaten the drivers that they would be arrested for traffic violations,” said Caramat.
Following the complaint, Caramat said his men immediately mapped out an entrapment which resulted in the arrest of Corpuz in front of a convenience store in Rosario, Pasig City.
Corpuz, assigned to the Traffic Management Unit of the Eastern Police District, was collared after receiving P1,000 marked money.
“Based on our report, he is also collecting P500 weekly per habal-habal (passenger motorcycle) terminal in Pasig City,” said Caramat.
Criminal and administrative charges are now being readied against the arrested policeman.
It was recalled that the PNP vowed to dismiss from the service any policeman who would be caught engaged in illegal activities.
More than 70 policemen were already arrested by the CITF since its creation in February last year. On the other hand, more than 1,100 erring policemen are on the watchlist of the PNP.