Erap: ‘Kotong’ cops’ days are numbered

MANILA, Philippines - The days of police officers who extort money from motorists and vendors in Manila are at an end, Mayor-elect Joseph Estrada said yesterday.

“I have asked the Manila Police District chief and his deputy chief that I want to see results within 100 days that Manila policemen are indeed Manila’s finest, not the worst,” Estrada said in an interview over radio station dzRH. He is set to assume office on June 30.

He said he has been receiving reports of police officers who commit “kotong (extortion)” and his number one priority is to improve the deteriorating peace and order situation in the city.

Estrada said a study conducted by the University of the Philippines (UP) showed that Manila has the highest poverty and crime rates, which are scaring away foreign and local investors.

“Many businesses left Manila due to these heinous crimes, such (car thefts) and kidnappings. We will entice business so they will put their businesses here and create jobs,” he said.

Estrada said that thieves did not spare the statue of the late Mayor Arsenio Lacson on Roxas Boulevard.

“Even the hands of the statue of Mayor Lacson were stolen. Manila is the face of our country so please help me dispel such an unfair tag as the ‘gates of hell.’ I ask your help to bring back the glory of Manila,” Estrada said.

Estrada reiterated that serving as Manila mayor is his last hurrah in politics. “While I am still strong, I will spend my last three years of public service especially to the poor,” he said.

Estrada said he has to address the city government’s financial problems, such as its P598-million power bill and its deficit of P3.5 billion. The former President said he has asked his former Cabinet members such as Benjamin Diokno and Jose Pardo, among others, to help him find ways to raise revenues and improve the transparency of transactions.