DILG: Bribe collector remits to local officials

MANILA, Philippines - A jeepney driver arrested for taking kotong (bribes) from fellow drivers claimed he remits his daily collection to a transport group leader, who then distributes the take among local officials and law enforcers, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said yesterday.

DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo said the agency’s Anti-Kotong Task Force (AKTF) has filed charges against Moden Amerol, a member of the Federation of Jeepney Drivers and Operators Association plying the Baclaran-Zapote-Alabang route.

Amerol, 29, admitted to extorting money from drivers passing through the intersection of Quirino Avenue and Redemptorist street in Parañaque City.

Robredo said Amerol’s claim indicates that organized bribe collection occurs among and between drivers and operators and the local police officers, traffic enforcers and barangay officials.

 “We are still determining further the veracity of the information we obtained from Amerol. If true, the situation appears to have gone from bad to worse. The leading transport organizations kept on complaining to us about kotong by traffic enforcers. And we have acted swiftly on their complaint. Yet, if this is true, they are also a big part of the problem,” Robredo said.

The arrest was based on a complaint sent to Inter-Agency Anti-Kotong Hotline 0918-8882749 that a man was using threats and intimidation to collect P20 from jeepney drivers plying the Baclaran-Zapote-Alabang route.

Unknown to Amerol, a DILG agent prepared P20 “marked money” and gave it to him. At this point, the agent and another operative, who was on board the jeepney, arrested Amerol.

Superintendent Wally Pornillos, chief of the DILG-AKTF, seized from Amerol the marked money and his collection of P278. The Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory said Amerol’s hands tested positive for the ultraviolet fluorescent powder dusted on the marked bill.