MANILA, Philippines, September 3 (PCOO) — The Palace on Wednesday warned traffic law enforcers against extorting money or ‘kotong’ from motorists.
“Kung may magko-kotong, don’t hesitate to tell us. We will not tolerate wang-wang sa daan. We will not tolerate wang-wang ng mga kahit sino sa gobyerno. So, kung mayroong manghihingi ng kotong, please don’t hesitate to tell us, our media friends. We will give you a number so that you can report these,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during a press briefing in Malacañang.
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Tuesday ordered the deployment of the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP HPG) to serve as the lead traffic law enforcement agency on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). This has prompted fears of a rise in the incidence of police officers extorting money from motorists, as what happened in the past.
“Certainly, we will not tolerate corruption. That should not be another avenue for corruption on the part of public officials,” he added.
When asked how the government would deal with traffic law enforcers engaged in “evidence planting”, Secretary Lacierda said safety measures are already in place to prevent this.
“I believe that EDSA is covered with CCTVs. So I think that I s, at the very least, a protection for our motorists,” he said, noting that video footages of any wrongdoing done by “any agent of authority” will be used as evidence against him or her.
He also encouraged motorists to use the cameras on their cellphones to record corrupt practices or crimes committed by traffic law enforcers.
“Kung may ganyang klaseng bagay, pwedeng kunan ng litrato, ipadala niyo sa mga ahensya at iimbestigahan ‘yan. Paalala na rin sa ating mga kawani na maraming mga matang nakatingin kaya ang trabaho natin bilang members of government is magtrabaho nang maayos, lalo na sa trapiko. Hindi para gawing pagkakataon ito na pagkakitaan,” he said.
The HPG has been tasked to ease traffic congestion in six major intersections along EDSA. These “choke points” are the intersections of Balintawak, Cubao, Ortigas, Shaw Boulevard, Guadalupe, and Taft Avenue. PND (ag)
