Anti-pollution officer arrested for extortion

An anti-pollution officer was arrested in Makati City for extortion, bringing to 58 the number of policemen and traffic officers hauled off to jail since Metro Manila police chief Director Ricardo de Leon launched his drive against kotong cops last February.

De Leon said the suspect, Warlito Canauay, 35, a member of the Makati City Anti-Pollution Unit, was arrested after he received the P100 marked money from SPO3 Danilo Anselmo in exchange for the lawman’s exemption from smoke emission tests.

Gumban said Canauay was the sixth traffic enforcer arrested by his unit last week for robbery-extortion. He named the five others as Rizalde Olino, Antonio Loreno, Reynaldo Valdez, Menandro Olpindo and Rolando River.

A total of 36 policemen and 22 traffic enforcers were arrested since the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) launched an intensified campaign against "kotong" cops. — Non Alquitran