Cagayan, Philippines – A van owner’s complaint over alleged extortion led to the arrest of five employees of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Cagayan Valley on Monday, September 1.
The Police Regional Office 2 said the owner reported to the authorities that the suspects demanded a big amount of money for the release of his van, which had been impounded due to the improper use of a green plate.
Based on gathered information, green plates are issued only to government-owned vehicles, whereas private vehicles are given white plates, and public transport units like buses, jeepneys, and UV Express vans are marked with yellow plates.
Past investigations revealed that certain private owners unlawfully utilize green plates for vans rented for transport services, granting them unjust advantages and evading franchise and regulatory obligations.
In this case, the van owner’s violation led to having his van impounded by the five LTO employees. However, they allegedly took advantage of the situation by demanding P200,000 from the victim in exchange for the release of his van.
The owner was told to provide P25,000 as an initial payment, but he refused. He later sought help from authorities, who immediately executed an entrapment operation in Nueva Viscaya, leading to the capture of the the suspects.
The suspects were identified as alias Ben, 36, from Makati City; alias Josh, 29, from Caloocan City; alias Manuel, 35, from Quezon City; alias Mab, 42, from Tuguegarao City; and alias Fer, 39, from La Union, the alleged leader of the group.
Investigators later found out that the group was also running a protection racket, collecting P1,000 from private owners and P2,000 from van operators with green plates in exchange for supposed protection.
The operatives recovered firearms, ammunition, an LTO badge, citation tickets, driver’s licenses, official receipts, seven smartphones, wallets with IDs, P96,500 in cash, the marked money used in the sting, and a sachet of suspected shabu from the suspects.
In follow up report, police confirmed the one of the suspects was tested positive for shabu.
PRO-2 said the suspects are now facing charges for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
Those who conducted the operation include personnel from the Bambang Police Station, Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Intelligence Unit, and the Department of Transportation-Cordillera.
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