Tanod nabbed for extorting money from Binondo vendors

MANILA, Philippines - A barangay watchman was arrested after he was reportedly caught extorting money from vendors in Binondo, Manila Friday night.

Ricky Roxas of Barangay 271 was caught in an entrapment led by the Manila Action and Special Operations chief Senior Superintendent Bernabe Irinco on M.V. Santos street.

Police officers recovered P150 marked money and more than P7,000 collected by Roxas from the 26 fruit vendors in Binondo.

“We conducted the entrapment operation after receiving the complaints from the fruit vendors in Binondo that Roxas has been collecting from them P200 for lighting, P100 for the barangay tanod and P150 for the police every day. A big syndicate is behind Roxas’ extortion activities and is operating in the entire Manila,” Irinco told The STAR.

He said they tried to arrest Roxas right after he received P350 marked money from vendor Martin Jungaya. “He tried to escape and we chased him. He dropped the other P200 marked money while he was trying to escape. That is why we only recovered P150 marked money. All of the 26 vendors have issued their sworn affidavits and they all expressed willingness to file a complaint,” Irinco said.

Roxas’ extortion activities will not thrive without the support of ranking barangay and police officials, according to Irinco.

Charges of robbery extortion will be filed against Roxas, he added.