Suspect Roger Cadutdut was caught in an entrapment operation conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Central Visayas (CIDG Region 7) in Barangay Carreta.

Officer-in-charge of the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) Lyntoni Alburo sought the help of CIDG Region 7 after a video of Cadutdut demanding money from a motorist reached their office.

“He didn’t know that the motorist whom he flagged down for a traffic violation was recording their conversation. He mentioned several violations and in the latter part, he manifested monetary demand,” said Police Col. Ireneo Dalogdog, chief of CIDG Region 7.

After receiving Alburo’s complaint, a team of CIDG Region 7 went to M.J. Cuenco St. where the traffic enforcer was deployed.

An undercover policeman then pretended as a motorist and intentionally committed a violation. Cadutdut apprehended the undercover policeman and went on to demand P1,000 so that he would not be issued with a citation ticket.

“The dusted money was recovered from his possession,” said Dalogdog.

It was not the first time that the traffic enforcer was accused of extortion. “There were instances that he would demand P300 or P2,000,” said Dalogdog.

The traffic enforcer has been with the CCTO for past three years as a job order employee.

Prior to his arrest, Cadutdut had been warned by his co-workers that a video of him extorting money from a motorist had reached their superior, said Alburo. “He was already warned about the video and I didn’t expect that would still fall into the trap that we set up,” said Alburo.

Alburo said the CCTO will launch a Facebook page or a hotline so that motorists can easily report erring traffic enforcers.