National Police Commission Commissioner Ralph Calinisan on Wednesday ordered an end to all forms of police extortion, warning that officers caught collecting “kotong” or protection money would be dismissed from the service.
Calinisan issued the directive as members of the MANIBELA transport group and the family of a slain public utility jeepney driver filed a formal complaint before NAPOLCOM against Police Executive Master Sergeant Edwin Figueroa.
The complaint accused Figueroa of masterminding the killing of the driver after the victim allegedly refused to pay illegal collections known as “butaw.”
“Itigil n’yo na ang kotong mula sa araw na ito. Hindi dapat nangongotong ang pulis sa inyo, at hindi rin dapat kayo nagbibigay ng protection money. Ihinto po natin ’yan. Bawal po ’yan,” Calinisan said during a press briefing.
Calinisan said NAPOLCOM would pursue the complaint without compromise and impose the highest administrative penalties on any police personnel found liable.
He also directed the commission’s Inspection, Monitoring, and Investigation Service to expedite the investigation and assured the complainants that the case would be resolved within 60 days, in line with NAPOLCOM’s policy on the prompt disposition of disciplinary cases.
“We will not let go of this case. NAPOLCOM ang hahawak nitong kasong ito. Walang aregluhan, pasensyahan tayo rito,” he said.
Calinisan said the crackdown was part of the commission’s continuing campaign to cleanse the police organization of corrupt personnel.
“Lahat ng tumatanggap ng kotong sa jeepney drivers, kapag nalaman namin, tatanggalin namin sila sa serbisyo. In the same way na inuubos natin ang lahat ng tiwaling pulis,” he added.
He urged transport workers and other victims of police extortion to report abusive officers directly to NAPOLCOM, the National Capital Region Police Office, or the nearest police station.