Woman vendor helps catch ‘kotong’ cop

An allegedly corrupt policeman was arrested yesterday after a vendor sought the assistance of Manila Police District (MPD) director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales to end the policeman’s reported extortion activities.

Mary Grace Villesca, 25, said Police Officer 3 Reynaldo Borjal, who is detailed at the Balut, Tondo police station, demands P50 daily from each vendor around Manila City Hall and Liwasang Bonifacio. Vendors who refuse to shell out money are driven away from their vending areas, she added.

Borjal reportedly made a killing during the youth-led interfaith rally last Friday at the Liwasang Bonifacio attended by thousands of participants as hundreds of ambulant vendors plied their wares.

Villesca refused to give the required P50 “vending fee,” which infuriated Borjal, who drove her away. Villesca then went to the MPD headquarters to personally complain to Rosales. The MPD chief then ordered the City Hall’s District Special Project Unit, led by Senior Inspector Marcelino Reyes, to apprehend Borjal.

Following his arrest, Borjal was identified by Villesca as the “tong” collector. Villesca said other vendors only kept silent about Borjal’s activities for fear of his wrath.

Charges of robbery extortion were filed against Borjal, who is currently detained at the MPD’s holding cell.

“I will not tolerate any illegal activities of my men. Like what I have always said, I would rather have a handful of honest and dedicated policemen than a bunch of recalcitrant ones,” Rosales said. – Nestor Etolle