Task force’s deadline to eradicate ‘kotong’ lapses

Four days after its self-imposed deadline of Dec. 15 to end extortion on the streets, officials of the Kontra Kotong at Kolorum (KKK) campaign have yet to report their accomplishment.

The STAR tried to contact Task Force KKK chief Roy Kyamko but he did not return the call or text messages.

When it was launched last Nov. 14, the TFKKK promised to eradicate the problem on kotong (extortion) and kolorum (unregistered vehicles) by Dec. 15.

Last Dec. 7, a total of 160 unregistered vehicles have been impounded as part of the inter-government-agency campaign to finally stop “kotong” (extortion) by some police officers and traffic enforcers and kolorum vehicles, which cost an ordinary taxi or jeepney driver P7,000 a month.

But drivers said they hardly felt the campaign as unscrupulous traffic enforcers from different government agencies continue their illegal activities, to the detriment of the jeepney drivers and operators.

Representatives of transport operators and drivers vowed not to press for an increase in transport fares if the streets were rid of illegal transports and road extortion that cut down on their take-home income.

Aside from reducing the income of operators and drivers of legitimate public utility vehicles, TFKKK officials said “kolorum” operators deprive the government of substantial income from taxes and fees imposed on public transport operations.

The Kontra Kotong and Kolorum campaign was initiated in a bid to ease the impact of high oil prices on drivers and operators of public utility vehicles.   – Cecille Suerte Felipe