QCPD dissolves 'kotong' cop's unit

MANILA, Philippines - Chief Superintendent Mario dela Vega has dissolved the Mobile Patrol Unit (MPU) of the Quezon City Police District, the unit to which dismissed policeman Senior Police Officer 4 Jose dela Peña once belonged.

Dela Vega, director of the QCPD, said Monday his move was prompted partly by the “kotong” or extortion allegation against Dela Peña and also due to the directive of National Capital Region Police Office director Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina to focus police deployment at the barangay level.

The 152 MPU personnel have been transferred to the police stations.

“We studied this move because of the kotong allegations (against Dela Peña) and also because of the desire of RD (regional director Espina) to strengthen and fortify the precincts under the police stations,” Dela Vega told reporters in an interview.

However, Dela Vega stressed that the move to dissolve the MPU was his decision and not ordered by Espina.

Dela Peña gained notoriety after he was accused of extorting money from Espina’s son. He was later on dismissed from the police service for another administrative case.

Dela Vega noted that the MPU was not included in their “table of organization,” or the structure approved by the PNP headquarters, saying not all police districts have it.

Apart from the MPU, also dissolved was a unit called “Tactical Motorcycle Riders.” Its 21 personnel and their assigned motorcycles have been transferred to the police stations.