NBI nabs LTO-deputized agent for “extortion”

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  â€“ A deputized law enforcement agent of the Land Transportation Office in this city was arrested Tuesday afternoon in an entrapment operation by the local office of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

The arrest of Warren Salut, 41, married, of Mambaling, Cebu City and currently staying in Dumaguete City, came after lawyer Elton Abrea, 34, of Mangnao, also in Dumaguete City, sought the help of the NBI, claiming that the former was “extorting” money from him.

NBI-Dumaguete chief Dominador Cimafranca said Abrea appeared at his office to complain of an alleged irregularity involving Salut who allegedly offered to “fix a violation payment without an official LTO receipt.”

Cimafranca said Salut had allegedly asked from Abrea P1,500 in exchange for the release of the lawyer’s license which was earlier confiscated for a traffic violation.

Abrea told the NBI and reporters that early Monday evening, he was apprehended by Salut for driving a motorcycle without a helmet. Salut confiscated his driver’s license, issued him a temporary operator’s permit (TOP) and told Abrea to look for him at the LTO-Dumaguete Office the following day.

The lawyer admitted to reporters that he asked Salut to reduce the fine of about P1,700 to P1,600. He further alleged that Salut asked him to pay P1,500 instead but without an official receipt. This prompted Abrea to seek the help of the NBI for the entrapment operation.

Salut, who presented an LTO ID card, was not an organic employee of the LTO but a deputized traffic law enforcer, said Cimafranca, and confirmed by LTO-Dumaguete District Office chief Eugene Gador.

Gador said he still has to investigate the incident but promised to take the necessary action, adding that he will not tolerate any malpractice in his office.  (FREEMAN)