Posts Tagged ‘Kotong’

Report Kotong Via SMS

Let’s face the fact that kotong (extortion) of some PNP officers is terrible especially during Christmas season. A kotong news is not pleasing to anybody’s ears, these abusive cops should face the consequences they deserve. I myself became a victim, not once but twice.

At first, I’m hesitant to report the kotong incident, I admit I got scared. I have my family to protect, I guess this is the primary reason that some didn’t report kotong cops. Its hard to gamble but always remember that we always have choices.

I’m glad that Quezon City PNP encourage the people to report kotong cops via SMS or text messaging. I doubt if the authorities are making the moves against kotong cops. I’ve tried reporting via SMS few months ago. What happened? Our Chief of Police was transferred to other municipality, the bad thing was… the former PNP Chief is back again. He maybe have a good reputation in our place especially our Mayor believe in him but he is a protector of kotong cops. How I wish I live in Quezon City.

I guess, the program against kotong cops also depends on municipality and PNP Chief of Police. I’ve mentioned from my other kotong articles that reshuffle of these cops is NOT the solution. They are still cops and they are rotten eggs wherever they go. In other words, anay sila na sumisira pa lalo sa imahe ng ibang matitinong kapulisan. Would you blame anybody if some didn’t ask help from police if they are in trouble?

Giving the benefit of the doubt, to report kotong incident send SMS to 2920 with this format: PNP(space)message. This is the new number to report kotong, the old number 09275151515 is still active but removed from PNP official website. I hope PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa strictly keep his eyes on this otherwise, kotong cops will win over mamang pulis.

How about envelope stamped “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” given by law enforcers?

Tongpats Of Kotong Cops

I don’t know what should I call this new modus operandi… tongpats (slang word of filipino word patong, means padding in accounting) or kotong (extortion)? Judge it yourself.

This is the current problem of small night establishments in Paranaque. Last week, almost every night, a group of cops headed by an intelligence agent talked to each of these small establishments encouraging them that they should get the liquor supply from them (cops). A case of San Miguel beer costs php372, price per case they offer is php420.

No normal businessman would get his merchandise at a higher price, that means more expenses and less income. Of course, nobody want to get their supplies from them and this team manipulated everything. They talked to all possible beer dealers and asked them to make a markup of php48 if any of these establishments buy their supplies from them. They said they would know if any of these small establishments get their beer to other dealers at normal price, they will be raid. Knowing their old system, it will be a frame up raid. Please read Buwaya sa Dilim to have an idea of how it will be done.

According to this “intel” (short of intelligence), “utos ng nasa itaas” (means it was ordered by their superior). Who are their superior? To where the markup goes? I don’t know. My concern is the effects of this wrong doing of these supposed to be protector of the nation.

I thought the new PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa will continue the PNP programs. He already made a new memorandum on human rights and still revising it as of this writing after earning negative feedback from media. I hope after doing the new memorandum, he will take care of all kotong cops and their superiors accordingly soon. Kotong cops are additional burden to small establishments especially now that Philippines is affected by global crisis.

No One Is Above The Law

National Capital Ragion (NCR) is consists of 14 cities (Caloocan, La Pinas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon, Taguig, Valenzuela City) and 3 municipalities (Navotas, Pateros, San Juan). These are under jurisdiction of Philippine National Police NCR.

It just so happen that I live and run our family business in one of these municipalities. Does having a KTV bar business is immoral? Does employing Magdalena (GRO) just to help the nation lessen the unemployed immoral? Does being immoral gave the right to kotong cops to violate GRO’s human rights? Is there such thing as human rights for Magdalena?

I’m sorry for these questions, GRO have a soft spot in my heart knowing how they fall to this kind of work. Did you know that most of them are bread winners of their family in the province.

Saan ka hihingi ng tulong kung ang involved ay ang kapulisan? Dapat ba na sumayaw kung ano ang tugtog? Sumabay kung saan ang agos? Magbigay kung ano ang hinihingi? Paano kung mali? Paano na ang mga matitinong pulis kung napapligiran ng mga anay na sumisira sa pangalan ng kalahatan?

Nobody is above the law… I don’t think it is true in the present situation. Another Police will take the position of soon to be vacant seat of PNP Director Avelino Razon Jr. because of his retirement. I hope, there will be a campaign against kotong cops just like in Palawan. And update their site where Filipinos can contact them through email.

I do what I believe is right. I do what I believe is good. I fight for justice. I fight for freedom. I am Ninoy.

pinoy

Kotong: Buwaya Sa Dilim

TGIF? TGIF (Thank God Its Friday) to kotong cops but bad day to small businessmen in NCR (National Capital Region). What am I saying?

Robbers In Uniform?
They are not actually wearing their uniforms, they claimed they are under Intelligence division of PNP NCR, as expected they are wearing civilian clothes and will disguised as typical KTV customers. They will choose a not so big KTV Bar with VIP rooms and GROs working in the establishment.

Modus Operandi
A man or two men will enter the establishment, posed as customer, order for food and drinks. Then the man will ask for a GRO so he can have a drinking companion. After a while, they will transfer to VIP room. VIP room is a small room, dim-light with a table and two chairs… to some, cubicle with see through curtain is also considered as VIP room. On the other hand, other cops are scattered outside, waiting for the “go signal”.

The Go Signal
Its a simple SMS to cops outside, sometimes, other cops are already drinking inside the bar. They will announced they are the raiding team and its a raid. They will get every employees, GRO, receptionists, waiters, janitor, cashier etc to ride in a vehicle already waiting outside because of the go signal. They will search the premises for possible employees trying to hide from the “raiding team”. They will also ask to bring the employees’ working permit (some call this as health certificates).

To The Batcave
The owner after learning the incident will follow them to Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan. Cops will now tell the violation, prostitution. Take note that the usual day of their “operation” is Friday nights where there is no fiscal the following day because its a weekend (no office days). If the employees didn’t released on the same night (Friday), they will stay until Monday morning. Employees stays in an empty room, the small jail serves not a jail but a stockroom of unwanted furnitures. The longer the employees stayed there, they will still continue looking for more violations by interrogating the employees.

Negotiations
What to do to release the employees? Employees with proper working permits will be released after questioning. But GROs doesn’t worked long enough to a certain KTV bar to obtain expensive requirements for their working permit. Plus, it takes 2-5 days for processing. So chances are, there are some employees without permit or not yet finished processing their permit. Negotiations will come between cops and owner. Whatever strategy the owner do, it will end up that he have to pay a certain amount for their release. Believe me, its not small money for small businessmen.

Rouge Cops
They are branded as rouge cops or kotong cops for doing hulidap. Hulidap is a slang word, a combination of huli (means caught) and holdup. Why they are “on operation” again? They are asking for “intelihensya” (milk money) on a regular basis to small KTV Bars in exchange for “security” after the raid. If these entrepreneurs are law abiding citizen, pay their taxes, no violations, no bold show, no prostitution… why they will give milk money? Did these cops forgot that their salaries came from businessmen’s taxes as well as their job description?

Human Rights Violation
No wonder why PNP is the top violator of human rights according to Commission of Human Rights. According to City Administrator, PNP have no right to conduct such raids on KTV bars without the company of local government as well as inspecting the working permits of employees. Employees are all detained without knowing their violations. Correct me if I’m wrong but it sounds like “illegal arrest”.

I forgot to mention that the KTV bar’s employees were brought to JCTIFC (Joint Counter Terrorism Intelligence Fusion Center). hmmn… I didn’t know that raiding KTV Bars is included in their job. Am I right that they supposed to go after the terrorists?

Milk Money
This PNP practice is long been circulating in these businesses because big establishments give milk money to kotong cops to avoid headache on their illegal business such as bold shows. Some establishments didn’t bother to complain for many reasons. Where to complain if the violators are the authorities? Afraid that these cops will get back on them. Sad to say, some establishments allowed the extortion to happen even if they have no illegal operation and the business is not good.

Thoughts To Ponder
Does reshuffle of their area of responsibility is the answer? I’ve read in the article PNP Integrated Transformation Program that the transformation will take place in 2015. We are all affected by the economic crisis we currently have in our country, big or small business, rouge cops are additional burden. Some businesses are already closed. The sad things is… because of these kind of cops, cleans cops’ image are also affected. Sad but true.