Road discipline vs ‘kotong’ enforcers

Give them no reason to take advantage of you.

Motorists, especially drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs), have been advised by Metro police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco to follow traffic rules and regulations to avoid being victimized by "kotong" or mulcting cops.

Velasco said its not enough for the Philippine National Police to intensify its campaign against criminality and corrupt policemen. "Motorists should do their share by strictly abiding with existing traffic rules and regulations."

In a meeting with various transport groups at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) office in Quezon City last Friday, Velasco emphasized that kotong cops look for "easy prey," particularly drivers committing minor violations such as beating the red light, illegal turns and others.

These cops can also spot vehicles not carrying appropriate Certificates of Public Conveyance (CPC) and respective franchises, or the so-called colorum vehicles, he said.

"Without these documents, a PUV is considered colorum and the driver can be accosted by traffic enforcers," Velasco said, noting that majority of those arrested usually just pay off these cops to avoid the inconvenience.

He warned corrupt traffic enforcers, however, that they have been identified by their superiors and that they will soon be arrested, charged, jailed or transferred to far-flung-areas of the country.

The National Capital Region Police Office is determined to comply with President Arroyo’s directive to go after unscrupulous members of the PNP and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

"Once caught, they will be summarily dismissed or reassigned to far-flung areas," Velasco reiterated.

Earlier, the Metro police chief warned the 37 police station commanders of Metro Manila that they would be relieved should they be found remiss in the campaign against kotong cops and street crimes.

Transport groups have been recruited to the PNP’s Magic Eye program so they can report the illegal activities of policemen and traffic enforcers involved in the extortion racket.