NPD probes ‘kotong’ cops

MANILA, Philippines - The Northern Police District is investigating reports of two police officers seen collecting protection money or “kotong” from drivers whose trucks are illegally parked along C-3 Road and Dagat-Dagatan Avenue in Caloocan City, an NPD official said yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Pierre Bucsit, NPD deputy director for administration, said he has instructed Caloocan police chief Senior Superintendent Bernard Tambaoan to identify the police officers in patrol car 169 and charge them with robbery extortion after residents complained that the policemen were receiving P50 to P500 from truck drivers who violate traffic rules.

The police officers had reportedly been on “nightly rounds” to collect the money from the truck drivers parked along the national highways, causing traffic jams in the area.

“We know their mobile car and the time they were seen collecting ‘kotong.’ It is just a matter (of finding out) who were on duty at that time,” Bucsit said. 

Some residents also complained about the truck drivers’ blatant disrespect for traffic rules and bragging that “they are paying for their space.”

Bucsit said reports reaching his office had it that the patrol car is assigned to the city hall detachment, which is outside the policemen’s jurisdiction.

He vowed to clean up the area within a week and charge the erring policemen.