MMDA traffic enforcer nabbed for extortion

A traffic enforcer of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) was arrested by police yesterday for allegedly extorting P1,500 from a jeepney driver right inside the MMDA main office in Makati City.

Superintendent Alejandro Gutierrez, head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Criminal Investigation Office, said robbery with extortion charges will be filed against 36-year-old Rolando Rebueno, a resident of Caloocan City.

Rebueno was arrested based on the complaint of jeepney driver Felix Fortes, 37.

The MMDA enforcer arrested the suspect for driving his passenger jeepney "out of line" at around 7 a.m. yesterday in Fairview, Quezon City.

Fortes was on his way to his regular route of Philcoa to Kalaw from his home in Bulacan when he was spotted by the enforcer.

Fortes said the suspect demanded P3,000 from him to be able to retrieve his driver’s license without the filing of traffic violations.

Rebueno instructed the victim to bring the money to the MMDA office along Orense street in Guadalupe.

Unknown to Rebueno, Fortes, sought the help of the CIDG personnel who set up an entrapment operation after the MMDA enforcer agreed to lower the payment from P3,000 to P1,500.

Fortes explained that he could not raise P3,000.

Gutierrez’s men placed the handcuffs on Rebueno at around 10:30 p.m. inside the MMDA compound after he accepted the P1,500 cash, which had been laced with ultra violet power. – Christina Mendez