BAMBANG, Nueva Vizcaya -- Five employees of the Land Transportation Office (LTO)-Region 2 were arrested in an entrapment operation here for allegedly accepting P40,000 in marked money in exchange for unhampered operations and the release of an impounded vehicle on Sept. 1.
Police said the operation was conducted after complainants alleged the suspects demanded P200,000 for the release of an impounded van or P25,000 as an outright settlement.
After an initial transaction, the complainants said the suspects later agreed to collect P1,000 per unit and P2,000 per green plate van as a monthly payoff in exchange for unhampered operations.
Investigators prepared P40,000 in marked money and set a meetup at the location.
The suspects arrived aboard an LTO-issued Nissan Navara (plate SAA 9655) and were arrested after they received the marked money.
Recovered from the suspects, among othees, were the boodle money, firearms, citation tickets, cash, mobile phones, IDs, and suspected shabu, police said.
The suspects were brought to the Bambang Police Station for disposition and documentation.
Suspects face cases for violating Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and RA 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).