Fake traffic man nabbed

Police arrested a former traffic enforcer for robbery with extortion and usurpation of authority along Osmeña Boulevard, barangay Capitol Site, Cebu City last Saturday afternoon.

Erwin Ledesma, 45, of barangay T. Padilla who allegedly acted as traffic enforcer in the area last Saturday afternoon and who reportedly tried to extort P300 from a driver identified as Mario Parangan is now detained at the Fuente Police station.

Initial investigation revealed that Parangan violated a no parking sign while waiting for his employer who was visiting a friend at a nearby hospital.

Ledesma reportedly approached Parangan and introduced himself as an enforcer under the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

According to Fuente police investigator Elmo Rosales, Ledesma cited Parangan for the violation but the latter reasoned out he was just waiting for his employer who was coming back in a short while.

At this point, Ledesma reportedly demanded P300 from Parangan as settlement for the violation but the latter had only P100 so they waited for his employer who arrived thereafter who then gave P100 as well. They settled at P200.

But not long after, the employer noticed that Ledesma's identification card did not bear the signature of LTFRB-7 director Rogelio "Jing-jing" Osmeña so he asked that Ledesma wait for a while, as he would want to verify things.

However, Ledesma reportedly tried to run away but was cornered by Parangan who immediately called for police assistance.

A personnel from LTFRB-7 was sent to the police station to verify the matter, but he could not tell whether Ledesma was a traffic enforcer.

It was then that Ledesma admitted it was during the time of then mayor Alvin Garcia that he was employed as a traffic enforcer.

He claimed it was the first time that he did it. Evidence recovered from him included his fake identification card, P200 paid by the victims, and a violation ticket. - Ryan P. Borinaga