Manila ‘kotong’ cops’ days numbered

The days of Manila policemen protecting syndicates operating in the Ermita commercial district are numbered, officials said yesterday.

Manila Police District (MPD) director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales issued a stern warning for rogue policemen to shape up or face criminal and administrative charges.

“I’m bent on weeding out the scalawags in the MPD and those protecting ‘kotong’ syndicates should better watch out,” Rosales said, adding that “there will be no sacred cows in my effort to get rid of them.”

Rosales’ directive came amid reports that “kotong” syndicates, headed by a certain Rosy Salonga alias Rosy David, enjoy the protection of rogue Manila policemen.

“The group of Salonga is shelling out a weekly payola to Manila policemen to shield them from arrests,” an Ermita resident told The STAR.

The Ermita resident said the protection given Salonga’s group is the main reason why the crackdown ordered by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim against the syndicates failed.

He said the rogue policemen were mostly boyfriends of “kotong” operators known by their aliases as Malou Mao, Emi Kabayo, Ongkee, Leony Bukbok, Loida David, Adeling, Babylyn and Lilay.

The group’s latest victim was seaman Deonito Rosaldes, who was shortchanged by the cashier of an Ermita money-changing shop of P40,000 last Wednesday.

Rosales said his campaign against “kotong” protectors and other rogue cops is part of his effort to transform the MPD into one of the best police units in the country.

“We are a premier city so it is just fitting that the best police unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) should be found in Manila,” Rosales told The STAR.

He admitted that he received many reports of anomalous transactions involving MPD policemen, and that even Manila policemen are reporting their colleagues’ illegal money-making schemes.  – Non Alquitran