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Veggie truckers wary of ‘kotong’

BAGUIO CITY (Nov. 11) — Benguet vegetable truckers expressed apprehension from extortion practices of some of the Philippine National Police (PNP) assigned along the highways leading to Metro Manila. They fear the extortion might heighten because the peak season for vegetable trade is near.

Benguet Truckers and Traders Association Inc. (BTTA) President Benito Hipolito said extortion activities of PNP elements might recur this November until the Christmas season this December. He disclosed that unfortunately this timeframe is also the peak season for “kotong-cops” (mulcting police officers).

Hipolito admitted that extortion activities of policemen were minimized last June after an anti-mulcting operation headed by the Cordillera Police Regional Office (PRO), as supported by PRO-Region I and Region III.

Hipolito also wrote to PNP Director Arturo Lomibao seeking his intervention to protect vegetable dealers from abusive police officers.

Sr. Insp. Richard Verceles of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division said during the same forum that the anti-mulcting operations last June was a 99.9% accomplishment. However, no one was arrested during the operation.

Verceles explained that the “kotong-cops” were forewarned about the operations. He did not identify anybody or any group who might have warned the said policemen. He added that the operation led to the investigation of three cases of extortion against Cordillera policemen.

Truckers identified 12 points where extortion is rampant, which include San Miguel and Luisita Farms in Tarlac; Bonifacio C-3 in Caloocan; Baclaran in Parañaque; Quirino Avenue, Magallanes, Osmeña highway, Plaza Dilaw and Alabang in Metro Manila. # Kim Quitasol for NORDIS

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