A 36-year-old man posing as an employee of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority was arrested in Quezon City last Wednesday for robbery extortion and usurpation of authority.
The suspect, identified as Jacob Arellano, was arrested in an entrapment operation conducted by operatives of the Quezon City Police and the MMDA Intelligence and Investigation Office in Cubao, Quezon City.
The operation that led to the arrest of Arellano stemmed from the complaint of a terminal operator of UV Express vans who reported his illegal activities.
A report by the Quezon City police said a commuter van was impounded for colorum operations last April 27 and was brought to the MMDA Tumana impounding site in Marikina City.
The report aid Arellano called the complainant and claimed to be working under the MMDA Office of the General Manager.
According to the complainant, Arellano told her to pay P15,000 per month to prevent UV Express vans under her responsibility from being apprehended, with P7,500 to be given on the 15th and at the end of each month, respectively.
The complainant met Arellano on April 30 in Arayat, Cubao, Quezon City, and gave him the P7,500 he demanded.
Last May 15, Arellano again called the complainant and reminded her about the P7,500 payment.
He referred to it as “SOP,” and he threatened her that all their vans would be impounded if she would discontinue giving the “SOP” payments.
The next day, they met again and she handed him the P7,500. However, Arellano asked for another P15,000 for the release of the previously impounded van.
The complainant then sought assistance from the MMDA IIO, which reported the incident to General Manager Procopio Lipana.
In response, Lipana ordered the IIO to coordinate with the QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit for an entrapment operation.
The operation was carried out and led to the apprehension of the suspect, who was caught red-handed receiving the marked money from the complainant.
“Upon receipt of information, we immediately verified if Arellano is listed under the MMDA roster of employees and coordinated with the authorities,” Lipana said, adding the agency’s Administrative Service issued a certification that Arellano is not an MMDA personnel.
MMDA chair Romando Artes warned the public against unscrupulous individuals posing as MMDA employees to extort money.
“Wrongdoings like ‘kotong’ or ‘payola’ will never be tolerated. We call on the public to be on the lookout for these dubious people and report suspected illegal transactions. We will not let anyone tarnish the image of the Authority,” Artes said.
Lipana also urged those who have been victimized by Arellano to report his illegal activities to the agency.
