Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Tuesday warned fixers operating at city hall that “You’ll go to jail.”
“Sa mga fixer at iba pang gumagawa ng ilegal sa ating lungsod, mabuti pang magbalot-balot na kayo dahil may kalalagyan kayo sa aming lungsod,” Belmonte said.
“Sa tulong ng Quezon City Police District, liliit lang ang inyong mundo at siguradong babagsak kayo sa kulungan,” she added.
Belmonte reacted after the Quezon City Police District arrested nine suspects for robbery extortion, grave threats, and usurpation of authority.
Brig. Gen. Danilo Macerin said the suspects were nabbed in an entrapment operation conducted by the Crime Investigation Section, following a complaint by a contractor identified as Augusto Caesar Foronda.
The suspects asked for P5.3 million from the victim in exchange for a government contract involving an infrastructure project.
After agreeing to the terms, the victim sought help from the QCPD, which arranged an entrapment operation that led to the arrest of the suspects.
“We laud the QCPD for its swift action that led to the arrest of these unscrupulous individuals. This should serve as a warning that Quezon City is serious in addressing criminality within our jurisdiction,” Belmonte said.
She urged the city residents, particularly businessmen, not to deal with fixers when bidding for various city projects or when applying for permits and other licenses.
She assured that the city government has hastened the processing of permits, licenses, and other documents needed for business and other transactions.