I was a victim of kotong cops in Parañaque

Who says there are no more kotong cops in this kenkoy country called the Philippines. Even with the campaign of the national leadership to even just minimize corruption in this country, millions of Pinoys still believe that kotong is still a nationwide behaviour.

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Many say it is because the leadership of this country could not prove themselves to be adhering to the clamor of Honesty of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP). Who cares about kotong or kilkil because the leaders are also suspected to be doing this, says a retired bank manager.

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When I was in Metro Manila and I had to drive one evening to fetch a guest at the NAIA 2 airport terminal, a made a late swerve to the right lane because it was raining at night and was just too dark. Meters away a policeman with a raincoat flagged me down and I shook my head that this is it.

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The Paranaque City cop told me I violated the swerving traffic rule so I simply apologized that it was too dark and there was no bright signage. More important I apologized to this cop that I am just on a business trip and I am from Bacolod (Promdi) by showing him my driver’s license issued in Bacolod City.

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But he insisted that he would confiscate my license and that I should pay seven hundred fifty pesos so he would not get my license. This time I smelled bribery and I begged that I have only four hundred pesos to spare. And this kotong cop said that if I give him this amount he has to pay the difference. Stupido! As if he wants to make me believe that he will remit the fines to the government agency.

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At the end of the night, he insisted I give him the entire seven hundred fifty right away. I could not even see his name because he was wearing a raincoat. And who am I to dare that I will risk my life if I do not pay him the fine which he surely pocketed to buy rice and milk probably for his child?

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Now where is that so-called “matuwid na daan” and corruption campaign of the national government against erring government people? Only the wang-wang rule succeeded in this kenkoy country called the Philippines. Even in Las Piñas City a retired employee told me that he was a victim of extortion in one local government office where he was following up his property’s land title. So who will believe the national leadership on this kotong and matuwid na pag serbisyo? Forget it, let’s just drink San Mig Light beer para mahabang pagsasama sa inuman. Chow!