Sacked MMDA enforcer nabbed for extortion

MANILA, Philippines - A dismissed traffic enforcer of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) fell into police hands for allegedly extorting money from a truck driver in Quezon City Friday night.

Police said Rojim Dial, 31, of Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City, was clad in MMDA uniform when he was caught past 10 p.m. at the corner of A. Bonifacio and 7th Avenue in Barangay Pag-ibig sa Nayon.

The suspect yielded an expired MMDA identification card and traffic violation receipts.

Traffic officers SPO2 Jun Cuaresma and PO1 Nordy Mursidi arrested Dial based on a complaint filed by truck driver Arnold Bucao.

According to Bucao, he was driving a cargo truck along Barangay Pag-ibig sa Nayon when the suspect flagged him down for a trumped-up traffic violation.

Dial allegedly told Bucao that he will not slap with any traffic violation in exchange for P1,000.

Luckily, the driver saw policemen in the area and sought help.

When accosted, the suspect failed to present any mission order from MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino.

Police said Dial had been sacked as a traffic enforcer.

He was detained at the Quezon City Police District Station 1 facing charges of usurpation of authority.