POLICE officers arrested a 42-year-old former traffic enforcer on Wednesday after he allegedly impersonated an active officer and attempted to extort protection money from a local concrete products company along the East Service Road.
The suspect’s extortion attempt began on September 1 in Barangay San Martin de Porres, where he introduced himself as a Taguig City traffic enforcer.
He demanded money from a local firm to spare its delivery trucks from traffic citations, using his birthday as leverage.
After the company’s transport supervisor refused, the suspect continued to loiter outside the premises to intimidate staff.
The harassment culminated on September 9 when the suspect returned to the facility, falsely claiming he was summoned, and renewed his demands inside the administration office. Alert personnel immediately alerted law enforcement.
Officers from the Parañaque City Police Station arrived at the scene and confronted the suspect.
The man attempted to flee on a motorcycle and violently resisted arrest, leading to a struggle that sent both the suspect and officers tumbling into a muddy patch before he was subdued and handcuffed.
A background check with the Taguig City Traffic Management Office confirmed that while the suspect previously worked as a traffic enforcer, his service had long ended, rendering his credentials invalid.
Investigators suspect he may have engaged in similar impersonation schemes across neighboring cities.
Police Brigadier General Christopher N. Abrahano, Officer in Charge of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), praised the responding officers and directed investigators to look into related incidents.
“Impersonating a traffic enforcer to extort money is a betrayal of public trust we will not tolerate,” PBGEN Abrahano said, emphasizing that the NCRPO remains committed to protecting the business community from fraudulent activity.
The suspect is detained at the Parañaque City Police Station facing inquest proceedings.
Charges include Attempted Robbery-Extortion, Usurpation of Authority, and Resistance and Disobedience to a Person in Authority under Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code.
