Honesty teams vs scalawags cops

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has created at least seven police "honesty" teams in a renewed drive against "kotong" and scalawag cops.

The move was in line with the directive of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Calderon to rid the streets of cops involved in illegal activities, particularly those victimizing vendors and drivers.

Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., NCRPO intelligence chief, said they formed one honesty team each for the Counter-Intelligence and Special Unit (CISU), Regional Intelligence and Special Operations Office (RISOO) and the five police districts in Metro Manila.

"We started our case build-up against kotong and scalawag cops last week. We expect to achieve our first catch this week," Rojas said in an interview.

The NCRPO intelligence chief warned erring policemen to mend their ways because "we mean business in our campaign, no matter who gets hurt."

The honesty team is not a new concept since the program was implemented several years ago. The honesty teams simply faded from the picture since Calderon’s predecessors had other priorities, Rojas pointed out.

"Alarmed over the rampant extortion complaints by drivers, truckers and the public, Gen. Calderon decided to address the problem by re-activating the honesty police teams," he said.

Reports reaching Rojas showed that kotong cops also target vegetable vendors and hog and chicken raisers from the provinces, contributing to the rise in the cost of the said products.

The subject of extortion complaints are often those manning checkpoints in the wee hours of the morning, he added.

"Tiyak bababa ang presyo ng mga gulay at bilihin kapag nahuli itong mga kotong at scalawag cops," Rojas said.

The honesty teams are also coordinating with jeepney drivers for the dismantling of illegal terminals and parking lots along busy thoroughfares.

"Giginhawa ang traffic kapag nabuwag itong mga illegal terminals and parking lots na halos sinasakop na ang gitna ng kalsada," he pointed out.

Calderon gave no deadline for the NCRPO to put behind bars those linked to illegal activities.

"Our effort is a continuing process. We hope to neutralize these erring cops in the near future," he said. – With Nestor Etolle