Napolcom warns cops taking ‘kotong’ will be dismissed

MANILA, Philippines—Cops caught collecting kotong, or protection money, will be removed from the service, the National Police Commission (Napolcom) warned on Wednesday following a complaint alleging that a police officer ordered the killing of a jeepney driver.

Members of transport group Manibela and the family of the slain jeepney driver lodged a complaint before Napolcom against Police Executive Master Sergeant Edwin Figueroa.

READ: 9 LTO ‘kotong’ enforcers nabbed in Agusan del Norte

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They alleged that Figueroa orchestrated the driver’s killing after he refused to pay illegal collections, locally known as “butaw.”

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“Stop extortion starting today. Police officers should not be extorting you, and you should not be giving protection money either. Let us put an end to this. It is prohibited,” Commissioner Ralph Calinisan said in Filipino during a press briefing.

He also said Napolcom would pursue the complaint without exception and impose the maximum administrative penalties if the allegations are substantiated.

READ: PNP orders dismissal proceedings vs cop in alleged applicant extortion

Calinisan ordered Napolcom’s Inspection, Monitoring, and Investigation Service (IMIS) to fast-track the investigation, assuring complainants that the case would be resolved within 60 days in line with the agency’s policy on the prompt disposition of disciplinary cases.

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“We will not let go of this case. Napolcom will handle this investigation. There will be no settlements or special consideration here,” he said.

He added that the move is part of a broader campaign to remove corrupt personnel from the police organization, particularly those involved in extorting jeepney drivers.

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“Anyone found collecting protection money from jeepney drivers will be removed from the service once we identify them, just as we are working to eliminate all corrupt police officers,” Calinisan said.

The commissioner also encouraged transport workers and other victims of police extortion to report abusive officers to Napolcom, the National Capital Region Police Office, or the nearest police station. /mcm

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