CPD Cops arrest fake MMDA traffic officer

A 49-year-old widower was arrested by elements of the Central Police District Traffic Management Unit for posing as a deputized agent of the Metro Manila Development Authority in Balintawak, Quezon City, yesterday morning.

Arrested was Eduardo Cruz, widower, of Desierto Street, Malabon, Metro Manila. Cruz’s cohorts identified as Luis Aldana, of Concepcion, Malabon, Metro Manila and Fernando Zarita, of Pulilan, Bulacan, however, escaped when they saw Cruz was being arrested at the corner of A. Bonifacio Avenue and the service road leading to Balintawak, Edsa, at around 10 a.m.

Superintendent Arturo Navarete, CPD-TMU chief, said he received several complaints from motorists passing the Balintawak Cloverleaf interchange about the presence of traffic volunteers wearing black jackets.

Motorists complained that the men posing as MMDA deputized agents were frequently flagging down motorists for alleged traffic violations instead of helping ease the traffic build-up in the busy place.

According to Navarette, the suspects would not cite any traffic violation if motorists offered them money. "Their purpose at the place was just to get money from the motorists who did not even commit any violations," Navarette said.

The Central Police District-TMU checked the identity of the three men with the MMDA and found that they were not deputized by the agency.

Recovered from the possession of Cruz were booklets of Traffic Violation Receipts (TVR), police identification card, black jacket and P224 in different denominations.

The suspects were charged with usurpation of authority or official function before Quezon City Assistant City Prosecutor Zenaida Abad. Bail of P10,000 was recommended for their temporary liberty when the two who escaped were arrested.