Police chiefs warned against 'quota' system

Metro Manila police director Chief Superintendent Edgar Aglipay warned ranking police officials of dismissal from the service once found demanding weekly "quota" or "payola" (grease money) from their men.

"They better stop the practice," Aglipay told The STAR in a telephone interview. "I will not hesitate to institute dismissal proceedings against them."

Reports reaching Aglipay showed that a number of ranking police officials in Metro Manila, especially those assigned in the intelligence division and Traffic Enforcement Group (TEG), give out "juicy" positions to the highest bidder.

Hence, inept, corrupt and undisciplined (ICU) policemen win the bidding.

Instead of doing their duty, they resort to extortion and other "money-making" activities to come across with the weekly "quota" demanded by superior officers.

"There are still a number of ranking police officials who continue enjoying the fruits of the old "quota" system," said Aglipay. "Their days are numbered."

Aglipay cited the case of Senior Inspector Feliciano Gubatan and Inspector Manuel Herrera, who are facing summary dismissal proceedings after allegedly demanding weekly "payola" from a "kotong" cop, SPO4 Lito Saquing.

Saquing was arrested Jan. 21 while receiving P500 from Liza Gadi, accounting clerk of the Franco Bus company, on Lacson St., Sampaloc.

During investigation, Saquing said he allegedly shared his loot with Gubatan and Herrera. Gubatan was formerly the Sampaloc sector commander of the Manila TEC, while Herrera was assigned at the office of TEC chief, Superintendent Alex Castulo.

Both Gubatan and Herrera were relieved from their posts and transferred to the Headquarters Security Group of the PNP National Capital Regional Police Office pending hearing of their case by Chief Superintendent Efren Fernandez, NCRPO deputy chief for administration.

According to Aglipay, the "quota" or "payola" system is among the reasons for the low public acceptance rating of the police -- a negative 37 for the third quarter of last year.

But during the recent PNP NCRPO 9th anniversary celebration, no less than PNP Chief Deputy Director General Panfilo Lacson reported that a survey conducted by Pulse Asia last December showed that the public gave the police a positive 22 rating.

Aglipay is hoping that with Lacson's policy and programs, "there's no other way the police rating can go, but up."