A traffic enforcer of the Makati Public Safety Department (PSD), who allegedly extorts money from motorists, was arrested in an entrapment operation Monday night (November 23).
Major Tyrone Valenzona, Makati Police Assistant Chief of Police for Operations (ACOPO), identified the suspect as Roberto Hojas, 46, of Sta. Ana, Manila.
Based on a police report, cops conducted the entrapment operation on Malugay cor. Buendia Avenue in Barangay Bel- Air, Makati around 7 p.m.
Makati Police Investigation Unit chief Major Danilo Oamil said an undercover policeman handed a P500 marked money to Hojas.
“After flagging him down, the suspect asked our undercover police officer to just give him P500 instead of getting a P1, 000 citation ticket and his driver’s license confiscated,” he said.
Valenzona said after handing the marked money to Hojas, the cop gave a signal that Hojas already accepted the marked money.
“We then went out and apprehended him. We frisked him during the procedural search and we found the marked money inside his right pocket,” he said.
Valenzona urged other victims of Hojas to go to the Makati Central Police Station and file charges against him.
“To his other victims, go to the police station and file charges against him. We received reports that he has already victimized many motorists along Buendia Avenue,” the Makati ACOPO said.
Hojas is now under the custody of the Makati City Police.