Businessman held for P500,000 bribe try

MANILA, Philippines — A businessman was arrested in Manila on Wednesday for various offenses and later allegedly trying to bribe police officers with P500,000 to let him go.

Two police officers pulled over Mark Rovel de Ocampo, 43, a resident of Cavite, for driving the wrong way on a one-way street at the intersection of San Andres street and Quirino Avenue at around 2:30 a.m., according to the Manila Police District (MPD).

The lawmen said they found a 9mm pistol with 18 bullets in De Ocampo’s car. He did not show a permit to carry a gun.

The police officers alleged that De Ocampo tried to offer them bundles of P1,000 bills amounting to P500,000.

The businessman faces charges of violating Republic Act 4136, the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, and RA 3019, the anti-graft and corrupt practices law, as well as illegal possession of firearms.

De Ocampo, along with three Chinese men, was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for his alleged involvement in a kidnapping in Parañaque on March 25, MPD spokesman Maj. Philipp Ines said.

De Ocampo was also arrested in Pasay in June last year for allegedly driving a car he stole from a businesswoman and possessing P224,000 worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride and a gun, and then claiming to be an NBI agent when accosted by police.