Ermita’s ‘kotong’ queen falls

An alleged financier of illegal moneychanger shops, which operate by shortchanging customers converting their foreign currencies into pesos, was arrested by the police in Ermita, Manila yesterday.

Rosalinda Salonga, 58, who was tagged by the police as the “Queen of kotong syndicates,” reportedly provides large amounts of cash to unscrupulous moneychanger shops, according to Ermita police station chief Superintendent Rogelio Rosales Jr.

Kotong refers to the act of shortchanging people or otherwise extorting money from them.

Illicit moneychanger operators do not have large amounts of cash at their disposal during transactions and Salonga finances their operations to lure their victims, police said.

Senior Police Officer 1 Ricardo Zshornack and PO2 Joseph Lucban were on routine patrol along Mabini street in Ermita when they noticed a commotion involving a Caucasian man and four women.

American tourist Tor Storkersen, 44, told Zshornack that he exchanged his $7,800 to pesos but later found it short by P160,850. Storkersen said he was lured into changing his dollars with the moneychanger shop, which offered an exchange rate of P43.25 to the dollar compared to the prevailing exchange rate of P41.78.

Storkersen said that when he returned to the shop, the women who exchanged his dollars were nowhere to be found. However, he was able to trace the suspects.

Zshornack apprehended Salonga and her three alleged cohorts, identified as Shiela Gonzales, 37; Janet Cruz, 35; and Rosalinda Quillos, 53. However, no money was recovered from the four suspects, who admitted passing the money to a companion during the commotion.     

Manila Police District director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales had padlocked all illegal moneychanger shops allegedly involved in shortchanging customers. He also posted a sign at the door of the shops, warning patrons that the shop is involved in shortchanging patrons.

Rosales warned the police community precinct commanders of relief if those money exchange shops that were padlocked will again open.

There were reports that seven money exchange shops in Ermita padlocked by the police resumed their operations with the connivance of their police protectors.

“I have created a team to monitor the alleged protectors of the syndicate. I am also encouraging those who have knowledge of the policemen involved with the syndicate to personally approach me and relay their information. I assure them of protection and confidentiality,” Rosales said.