A traffic aide’s extortion activity in Iloilo City was caught on camera.

The traffic aide was seen to have apprehended a motorist in front of a university in Lopez Jaena Street, District of Jaro in Iloilo City. 

The motorist complained against the traffic aide’s illegal activities; because of this, the Iloilo City Traffic Management Unit launched an investigation and confirmed that the accusation is true. 

It has been a modus operandi of the traffic aide to extort from between P200 and P500 from traffic violators to arrange for the non-issuance of a citation ticket.

“Nahambal ya nga ma’am may violation ka sa on-road parking so hulamon ko ang imo lisensya. Pero ma’am or sir, mabudlay ni kun i-process sa City Hall. Kun mag-take ka sang iya side comment meaning you understand nga you will do transaction ang iya negotiation,” Uldarico Garbanzos, ICTMU head, said. 

The erring traffic aide has been working for three months now at the ICTMU.  

Garbanzos said he talked to the traffic aide about the complaint, but he refused to comment.

ICTMU has submitted a recommendation letter to the office of the Iloilo City Administrator for the termination of the traffic aide. 

The employee is placed under restriction while waiting for the approval of the recommendation. 

From December 2023, 12 of the 24 traffic aides fired from service have been found to be involved in extortion. The rest have unjustified absences.

Garbanzos said that prior to their tasks, the traffic aides are always reminded of the nature of their job, and their responsibilities as public servants, through an orientation.