The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday warned the public against unscrupulous individuals using the agency to extort money.
MMDA chairman Romando Artes issued the warning following an entrapment operation in Quezon City, resulting in the arrest of a 36-year-old man who allegedly posed as MMDA employee and demanded money from a terminal operator.
Artes said he will not condone illegal activities detrimental to the agency, whether done by ordinary citizen or MMDA employee.
“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 MMDA,” he said.
Joint elements from the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) and MMDA Intelligence and Investigation Office arrested the suspect, identified as Jacob Arellano, of Antipolo Rizal, during the entrapment in Cubao on Wednesday.
The operation stemmed from the complaint of a terminal operator of UV Express vans about Arellano’s illegal activities.
Based on a police report, a commuter van stationed at the complainant’s terminal was impounded for colorum operations on April 27 and was brought to the MMDA Tumana impounding site in Marikina City.
Arellano called the complainant and claimed to be working under the MMDA general manager’s office.
The complainant said Arellano demanded P15,000 per month in order to prevent UV Express vans under her responsibility from being apprehended.
The complainant met Arellano on April 30 at Arayat, Cubao, Quezon City, and gave him the P7,500, or half of the amount he demanded.
On May 15, Arellano 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 paying the bribes.
On May 16, the two met and the suspect was given P7,500. However, Arellano asked for another P15,000 for the release of a previously impounded van.
This prompted the complainant to seek assistance from the MMDA intelligence office, which reported the incident to general manager Procopio Lipana. Lipana then ordered his men to coordinate with the QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit to plan an entrapment operation.
On May 17, an operation was carried out in Quezon City. The suspect was apprehended while in the act of 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,” said Lipana. The MMDA administrative service issued a certification that Arellano is not an MMDA personnel.
