A Manila policeman has been charged with extortion by a delivery truck driver who accused him of taking P100 in exchange for the unhampered delivery of “balikbayan” boxes.
Driver Daniel Sarabia said that on July 8, Senior Police Officer 1 Mario Aloot, detailed at the District Mobile Patrol Unit of the Manila Police District, flagged him down and said the delivery truck has no top load cover.
When Sarabia said that only a portion of the boxes was protruding from the roof of the truck, Aloot asked for his driver’s license, then charged him with driving with a fake license. Sarabia vehemently denied Aloot’s allegation, saying his driver’s license was issued by the Land Transportation Office with corresponding receipts.
It was at this juncture that Aloot allegedly asked for P100 before he allowed Sarabia to go on with his trip. The driver said he inserted P100 in a blotter book on the patrol car’s dashboard.
Sarabia said the “balikbayan” boxes came from MPD Homicide Section head Chief Inspector Dominador Arevalo Jr. which arrived from China and was to be delivered at the latter’s sister-in-law.
Aloot reportedly ignored the name written on the boxes.
National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Geary Barias has ordered all Metro Manila police district directors to step up the government’s drive against hijackers and extortionists to keep them away from truckers.
He urged the public not to keep silent on the activities of erring policemen. “I assure you that I will personally act upon on your complaints immediately,” Barias said. — Nestor Etolle