No ‘kotong’ cops under my watch – Bataoil
LINGAYEN — Watch out “kotong” cops, your happy days are over.
This was the strong warning sent out by the newly-installed director of the Philippine National Police Region 1 office, Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil.
“Never under my watch. That’s one thing I emphasized to them. Never should anyone of my boys in Region 1 be involved in kotong or hulidap operation,” Bataoil told local newsmen here Thursday after making a courtesy call to Governor Victor Agbayani.
He encouraged the affected sectors to report all illegal activities of the police in the region directly to him at his mobile number 0917-8979563.
“The people can also use it to commend policemen who are performing,” the new regional director said
He said this house rule will help gain more cooperation, sympathy and support from the people they serve.
“Hulidap” refers to the practice of policemen extorting money from the public in the guise of an arrest for an ambivalent crime, while “kotong” refers to regular pay-offs of bribes by vendors, cargo truck operators and drivers for “protection” from arrests for petty crimes.
Pass cards
Meanwhile, Bataoil also said the pass card system for truckers implemented in the Northern Police District under the National Capital Region Police Office where he was the police director prior to his current assignment will be adopted here too.
The pass card serves to identify the truck and where it is supposed to be going at a certain time. Any discrepancy found during routine inspections at police checkpoints will put the shipment on hold and require verification and clearance from the truck’s main office.
Bataoil said he will seek its strict implementation here. — EVA
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