Traffic enforcer nabbed

Airport policemen arrested a Pasay City traffic enforcer yesterday after he allegedly extorted money from a nephew of Speaker Jose de Venecia.

Jesus Santos, 39, of No. 2448 Ventura Compound, Dela Cruz Street, Barangay 130, Pasay City, was collared after Royce Marcelino Querol, 33, of Vigan Ilocos Sur, filed a complaint against him.

Information gathered by The Star showed that Santos flagged down the Querol’s light green Toyota Innova along Domestic Road yesterday morning because the vehicle had a roof rack.

Querol said Santos informed him that roof racks should be registered unless it is only for display purposes.But since his roof rack has a suitcase, he could be fined P1,200.

Instead of issuing a traffic violation ticket, the suspect allegedly offered to escort Querol to the airport for P1,000.

Querol, who was accompanying his brother Dr. Racel Ireneo Luis Querol of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) who is leaving for the US, said he was forced to accept the offer knowing that he can lodge a complaint later.

Police Intelligence and Investigation Division (PIID) chief Captain Alden Gay, in a report to Airport Police Department (APD) chief Superintendent Francisco Dino, said a team was immediately formed and tasked to arrest Santos.

He was nabbed by APD-PIID operatives who booked him for robbery-extortion.

He is now in the custody of airport policemen and will be charged before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office.