‘Mamang pulis’ vs ‘kotong’ cops

It won't be a merry Christmas for kotong (extortionist) and abusive cops.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. yesterday gave an ultimatum to corrupt and abusive cops, as he officially launched the PNP Text Anti-Kotong Project.

“Once more, I declare in the strongest terms that
we have no place in our ranks for abusive and discourteous police personnel,” Razon told members of the PNP during the traditional flag-raising ceremony in Camp Crame yesterday.

“The true Mamang Pulis is not abusive, does not take bribes, and is a friend of the citizen. We do not oppress our countrymen. We only serve and protect them. And we do not abuse our authority. We only use it to enforce the law and keep peace around us,” Razon said.

Since he assumed office last Oct. 1, Razon has fired 38 policemen and meted disciplinary action against 257 others for misconduct and breach of discipline.

Razon also ordered administrative proceedings against eight members of the Manila Police District Station-4 who have been accused of involvement in robbery-extortion activities, and summary dismissal proceedings for a Cebu policeman who allegedly hurt two civilians when he tried to shoot a fellow policeman.

The PNP Text Anti-Kotong Project is seen as an effective measure against corruption and abuse in the police force. The launching was witnessed by Commissioner Jaime Jacob of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission.

PNP Director for Operations Silverio Alarcio Jr. said the PNP Text Anti-Kotong Project will receive complaints about police and other law enforcement agents engaged in kotong or bribery activities, through hotline number 0927-5151515.

“The system has four outgoing text numbers that will reply to messages received through the Text Anti-Kotong hotline,” Alarcio said. “Right now we are developing the system to become capable of receiving incoming Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) text messages.”

In an effort to maximize the impact of the campaign against kotong, the PNP formalized a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with eight government and non-government agencies to enlist their support.

Among these are the Philippine Information Agency, Presidential Council on Values Formation, Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP), Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP), Integrated Metro Bus Operators Association (IMBOA), Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP), Association of Taxi Operators Association of Metro Manila, and Bantay Bayan Foundation Inc.