Traffic cop faces extortion raps

MANILA, Philippines - A traffic police officer was charged before the Valenzuela City People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) Tuesday for the alleged extortion of a motorist involved in a recent accident along MacArthur Highway.

Benjamin Manzon, 58, a resident of Meycauayan, Bulacan has earlier filed the same charge against traffic investigator Senior Police Officer 1 Decito Reyes with the office of the Valenzuela City chief of police.

Manzon said that he was driving home his Mitsubishi Adventure (WDW-815) with his two children and two grandchildren as passengers when they met an accident along MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela City on Dec. 17 at around 11 p.m.

A motorcycle reportedly hit the right side of his car prompting him to stop and parked his vehicle at the nearby gas station. When he checked, he saw two riders of the motorcycle sprawled on the concrete pavement.

A rescue team arrived and brought the victims to a hospital while Manzon with his vehicle was brought to the police traffic unit for investigation.

Manzon claimed that Reyes, the case investigator, asked from him a total of P10,000 purportedly for the hospitalization of the victims but he only have P5,000.

Reyes, he said, confiscated his car keys and his driver’s license and instructed him to produce the amount or he would be charged and his car would be impounded.

Manzon left and returned early morning the following day and reportedly gave Reyes P6,500 but the investigator reportedly demanded P500 more.

After receiving the money, Manzon said Reyes told him to sign the release papers for his car. He was allowed to go without the filing of any charges.

In his complaint to the PLEB, Manzon appealed for “due investigation” and to have Reyes “meted the appropriate penalty” when found guilty.

The STAR contacted Reyes yesterday at the Valenzuela City police traffic unit but the policeman was on a holiday break. He would return for work on Jan. 2.

Reyes’ immediate superior, Chief Inspector Erwin de Guzman, said the money his investigator asked from Manzon was for the hospitalization of one of the two victims who suffered serious head injuries.

He said no charges were filed against Manzon after the victims agreed for cash settlement.