Fake MMDA employee nabbed for extortion, usurpation of authority

Authorities have recently caught a 36-year-old man who allegedly poses as a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) personnel while extorting money.

In a statement, the agency said that the suspect was arrested recently during an entrapment operation conducted by operatives of the Quezon City Police District-Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (QCPD-CIDU) and the MMDA Intelligence and Investigation Office (IIO).

The man, identified as Jacob Arellano, was nabbed following a complaint of a terminal operator of UV Express vans in Cubao. He is currently facing charges of robbery (extortion) and usurpation of authority and is detained at Camp Karingal.

Based on the 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 that he is working under the MMDA Office of the General Manager.

The complainant said that she was told by Arellano to pay P15,000 per month (P7,500 per 15 days) in order to prevent UV Express vans under her responsibility from being apprehended. Last April 30, the complainant met Arellano at Arayat, Cubao, Quezon City, and gave him the initial P7,500.

On May 15, Arellano called the complainant and reminded her about the succeeding P7,500 payment that he referred to as “SOP” (standard operating procedure) and threatened her that all their vans would be impounded if she would discontinue giving the “payments.”

The following day, the two met again and the complainant handed Arellano the P7,500. However, Arellano asked for another P15,000 for the release of the previously impounded van.

The complainant sought assistance from the MMDA IIO, which reported the incident to General Manager Undersecretary Procopio Lipana. In response, Lipana ordered the IIO to coordinate with the QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit to plan an entrapment operation.

On May 17, the suspect was caught 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," Lipana said. The MMDA Administrative Service issued a certification that Arellano is not an MMDA personnel.

Meanwhile, MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Don Artes warned the public against unscrupulous individuals posing as MMDA employees to extort money.

"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 Authority," Artes was quoted as saying.

Artes guaranteed that he will not condone any illegal activities detrimental to the agency, whether done by ordinary citizens or MMDA employees.

For his part, Lipana also urged people who have fallen prey to Arellano to report his illegal activities to the agency.

Photos from Metropolitan Manila Development Authority

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