Fake traffic enforcer nabbed in Manila

Acting on complaints of motorists, operatives of the Western Police District (WPD)’s Task Force Galugad caught a fake traffic enforcer extorting money on trumped up traffic violations against motorists passing A.H. Lacson Avenue in Sampaloc, Manila last Thursday.

Task force commander Chief Inspector Alex Yanquiling identified the suspect as Jesus Peterson, 31, of Sampaloc. Recovered from Peterson were a fake identification card, used traffic citation tickets, a belt holster with handcuffs, several plastic driver’s license jackets, a notebook with a Philippine National Police logo and a black leather pouch containing improvised citation tickets.

Yanquiling said Peterson had been the subject of numerous complaints from motorists passing through A.H. Lacson. A directive from Camp Crame dated June 14 tasked the WPD to immediately act on the alleged extortion activities of Peterson.

Yanquiling directed SPO4 Ismael de la Cruz, SPO2 Rodelio Reglos and SPO2 Mario Tabora to conduct an entrapment operation against the then unidentified suspect.

At around 7:35 p.m., a civilian police asset acting as a motorist was flagged down by a traffic enforcer at the corner of Fajardo and A.H. Lacson Avenue. The asset was booked for a traffic violation.

After seeing the suspect receive the marked money from the motorist, undercover cops posted nearby arrested the traffic enforcer. Peterson was still holding the P260 in marked money.

At the police station, Peterson admitted extorting money from motorist in exchange for non-issuance of traffic violation receipts. He revealed that the improvised traffic citation booklet, cut out from calendar sheets and dabbed with blue ink on the sides, was given to him by a Katapat traffic officer, whose name was stamped on the face of the ticket. Katapat is a Manila City Hall-recognized group of local traffic enforcers.

Charges of usurpation of authority, illegal use of uniform and robbery extortion were filed against the suspect.