Nightclub owners urged to sue ‘tong’ collectors

Nightclub owners in Metro Manila were urged yesterday to surface and file formal complaints against active police and civilian "tong" collectors so they would be severely punished.

Metro Manila police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco pointed out that the investigation against the police and civilian "tong" collectors could not prosper because of the absence of a legitimate complainant. Velasco assured the complainants of full police protection.

The Metro Manila police chief directed Senior Superintendent Louie Palmera, chief of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division (RIID) to conduct a thorough probe that PO3 Edmund Morata and a civilian Rey Cuevas were allegedly dropping his name to collect P2,000 to P5,000 weekly protection money from nightclub operators.

"I never authorized anybody to use my name in any "tong" collection activities," Velasco said in an interview.

Reports said that Morata, of the Regional Intelligence and Special Operations Office (RISOO) and Cuevas of the Task Force Anti-Gambling were doing the rounds of Metro Manila’s establishments demanding protection money for Velasco’s office.

But their racket drew an uproar from nightclub owners because they "doubled" the weekly payola from the previous administration.

"In my entire police career, I never received money from illegal gambling and nightclub operators. I will never allow anybody to tarnish my image and reputation at this time," said Velasco. – Non Alquitran