In Caloocan, and presumably elsewhere in the metropolis, they are the convenient fronts of so-called "kotong" policemen and traffic enforcers in their mulcting rackets which continue to flourish.
On orders of police chief, Superintendent Benjardi Mantele, operatives Friday last week rounded up from the streets radiating from the Bonifacio Circle, five sampaguita vendors moonlighting as "tong" collectors for erring traffic officers.
Station Investigation and Intelligence Division (SIID) chief, Superintendent Dionicio Borromeo, identified the suspects as Hernando Lumanog, Joel Lorez, Nestor Dizon, Erlito Valiente, and Francisco Patotoy.
SPO1 Antonio Peñaranda of the SIID said the five, who also double as jeepney barkers, were picked up one by one by the police at around 11 a.m. after they were tagged as the ones collecting P5 to P10 from passenger jeepney drivers, allegedly for merienda of still unnamed traffic enforcers.
Peñaranda said they received information that the vendors, who sell sampaguita garlands in the Monumento area, allegedly collect "tong" from drivers so that they can freely pick up passengers anywhere. The practice has contributed to choking traffic in that area.
The suspects, however, belied the accusations, claiming they were arrested without any reason except for selling sampaguita garlands on the highway.
Borromeo said they are investigating to identify the kotong cops. He added that a number of Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Caloocan City’s Department of Public Safety Traffic Management (DPSTM) personnel are now being investigated.