Traffic cop, MMDA man arrested for mulcting

A traffic policeman and an enforcer of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) were arrested over the weekend for allegedly mulcting from motorists.

The arrests of SPO3 Zaldy Ferma of the Western Traffic Enforcement Group (WTEG) and Bienvenido Mercado, of the MMDA were part of the continuing effort of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) to rid its rank of scalawags.

Chief Inspector Arnold Aguilar, head of the NCRPO’s Counter-Intelligence and Special Unit (CISU) said Ferma was arrested after receiving P100 marked money in from an "undercover" agent he accosted for a simple traffic violation.

Ferma denied the charges against him. But he fell silent when confronted with the marked peso bills recovered from his possession.

Aguilar said Mercado was arrested after receiving P1,000 marked money from a motorist he arrested also for a traffic violation.

Mercado, a member of the Parañaque Traffic Management Office (PTMO) gave himself up peacefully.

Meanwhile, another MMDA traffic enforcer, Kenneth Ancheta was disarmed of his firearm, a 9 mm pistol, by a lawman he tried to accost for a traffic violation.

Ancheta allegedly drew his gun after the lawman, a PO2 Maganto, questioned his authority to arrest him. He failed to show supporting papers for his firearm, said Aguilar. When Aguilar’s men were about to arrest him, Ancheta boarded his motorcycle and sped off.

Aguilar said Ferma and Mercado were charged with extortion in the Manila and Parañaque City prosecutor’s office, respectively.

His men are presently hunting down Ancheta, Aguilar said. – Non Alquitran