A TRAFFIC policeman was arrested in Pasig City on Thursday morning, June 14, for allegedly receiving monthly payola for the “protection” of public utility vehicle drivers in the area.
Senior Police Officer 1 Adonis Corpuz, who is assigned at the Traffic Management Unit of the Eastern Police District, was arrested in a convenience store in Pasig City after receiving the supposed payment for June 15.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Counter-Intelligence Task Force (CITF) spokesperson Chief Inspector Jewel Nicanor said the entrapment operation stemmed from the validated complaint of Claudio Homicillda, terminal dispatcher at the Lucky Gold Terminal in Rosario Pasig, that Corpuz was extorting P1,000 as protection money every 15th and 30th of the month from UV Express drivers using the said terminal.
Corpuz was also reportedly extorting P500 weekly from each habal-habal (motorcycle taxi) terminal in Pasig City.
“(Homicillda said Corpuz) would harass and even threaten to arrest PUV drivers if they failed to pay their dues,” said Nicanor.
Corpuz is now under the custody of CITF for documentation and filing of appropriate criminal and administrative cases. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/SunStar Philippines)