Manila traffic police chief, 11 others axed over extortion claim

An indignation rally staged earlier this week by tricycle drivers and operators to protest alleged extortion by policemen has cost Manila's traffic police chief and 11 other officials their jobs. Radio station dzRH reported Thursday that Metro Manila police commander Director Reynaldo Varilla ordered the sacking of the traffic policemen led by Senior Superintendent Elmer Jamias, chief of the Manila Police District – Traffic Enforcement Office (Mpdteo). Also sacked were Sr. Inspector Benjamin Cosme, Insp. Rizal Tungol, Insp. Romulo Tamayo, senior police officer 4 Daniel dela Cruz, SPO2 Dionisio Sagun, SPO2 Cesar Santiago, SPO2 Arnel Pabines, SPO2 Ernesto Castillo, PO3 Angelito Lim, PO3 Ruben Cosme, and PO3 Remy Balonel. Varilla also ordered the regional investigation and detective management unit under his office to investigate the 12 police officials. The sacking followed the indignation rally staged by the Federation of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association in Manila's Port Area earlier this week. The protesting tricycle drivers and operators accused traffic enforcers in the city of extorting from them. -GMANews.TV