Stop ‘quota’ system, Aglipay tells cops

Christmas will be bleak for some police officials in Metro Manila after Metro Manila police chief Director Edgardo Aglipay ordered yesterday a stop to the "quota" system of some police officials reportedly out to enrich themselves.

The "quota" system of the erring police officials led to rampant "kotong" and extortion rackets of policemen on the streets, reports reaching Aglipay said.

Those involved in the "quota" racket are police district directors, station commanders, traffic chiefs and heads of various police units, the report added. "The police officials behind this quota system have no place under my command," said Aglipay in a telephone interview. "They should reform or be yanked out of their posts."

Under the "quota" system, policemen hand over a large sum of money to their superior officer on a weekly basis. While their colleagues are risking their lives fighting criminality like kidnapping-for-ransom syndicates, hijacking and bank and payroll robberies and cellphone snatchers, these policemen are busy either collecting protection money from illegal gambling operators or mulcting erring motorists.

Aglipay appealed to these policemen not to be used as "collectors" of grease money by their superior officers. "You should always put in mind that you are working to serve the public and not your superior officers," said Aglipay to the policemen.

If their superior officers insist on using them as "collectors," Aglipay asked the policemen to report directly to him, through his cellphone number 0917-813-1310, so an entrapment operation can immediately be set.

Aglilpay recently created an Anti-Scalawag and Kotong Task Force to go after erring policemen involved in extortion rackets. He warned that those who fail to "toe the line" would be relieved from their posts and charged administratively in the proper forum. Those found guilty will immediately be dismissed from the service.