Traffic aide sacked for extortion

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

ILOILO City Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) head Jeck Conlu said he ordered the dismissal of a traffic aide assigned in Molo district for extortion following the complaint by a private car driver reported through a local radio station on Monday.

“Nakalab-ot na sa aton ang report from a local radio station, pero wala pa kita kabaton formal complaint pero kita ya nagtake action na and nag-conduct kita sang assessment sang report and gin-relieve na naton siya,” Conlu said.

Based on the report of Aksyon Radyo-Iloilo, the traffic aide called out the driver because of the car’s “defective headlight.”

The complainant said her husband gave P500 to the traffic aide who told them that they are lucky since the amount is lower compared to the P7,000 penalty enforced by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) on such violations.

After changing their headlights, the same traffic aide again called them out and contended that the headlights were too bright.

According to the complainant, they paid the traffic aide another P1,000 but he again reprimanded the driver and told them to choose better quality of headlights next time.

Conlu said the traffic aide is currently under investigation of Atty. Richard Jeruta of the City Legal Office.

He also encouraged the complainant to file a formal complaint to serve as a basis for the enforcement of the legal action.

“Gina-encourage naton ang complainant to file formal complaint para may basis gid kami kun i-suspend or pahalinon ko,” he said.

Meanwhile, Conlu said he already fired 11 traffic enforcers in 2018 for various infractions.