Pasig cop, pal nabbed for extort

A traffic policeman and his civilian companion were arrested Monday for allegedly extorting money from members of a tricycle drivers and operators association (TODA) in Pasig City.

Investigators said PO2 Raul Telan and his companion Renato Macalalad, 46, were caught in the act of receiving P500 marked money from an agent of the Eastern Police District-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (EPD-CIDG) during a sting operation.

Inspector Danilo Pecana, head of the CIDG arresting team said that Barangay Buting TODA officials have been complaining against the extortion activities of Telan and Macalalad for some time now.

Pecana said Telan would demand a weekly P500 protection money from the association. Macalalad would serve as Telan’s "tong" collector.

Acting on the tricycle drivers’ complaints, Pecana organized a sting operation against Telan.

Telan did not resist arrest when CIDG agents pounced on him after he received the marked money inside his house at Block 3 Austria Compound, Barangay Buting.

He then led CIDG agents to Macalalad.

Both Telan and Macalalad refused to talk to reporters.

Charges of extortion are being readied against them. They are now detained at the Pasig City police detention center. – Non Alquitran