Anti-bribery measures intensified with PNP’s ‘Text Anti-Kotong’ campaign
MANILA, Philippines—Motorists and traffic-and-law enforcers involved in “kotong” (bribery) beware, as various government agencies are intensifying their efforts against corruption.
Speaking to reporters at Camp Crame during the launch of the campaign “Text Anti-Kotong” on Thursday, Philippine National Police chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome warned motorists and law enforcers alike that they may face charges if they are caught involved in kotong incidents.
Bartolome said that it was not the first time that they would look into police officers accepting bribes and that they have had their eyes on several incidents of bribery. “Bago namin sila hulihin, mamanmanan na namin sila for evidence,” he said.
The campaign was a chance to change how the public viewed law enforcers, said DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo. He said that even if “kotong” incidents would not be totally eradicated, the campaign would at least reduce the occurrence of bribery on the road.
But it is not only the law enforcer that authorities will be under scrutiny as the PNP chief encouraged his men to “accost and file charges against those who bribe personnel.” This was his reaction about information that some law enforcers were being thrown money by motorists caught violating traffic rules.
“Walang kotong kung walang nagpapakotong (There will be no corrupt traffic enforcers if there are no one who will give bribe),” said Robredo, adding that drivers who violated traffic rules should not bribe law enforcers and instead, accept that they did something wrong.
Article continues after this advertisementRobredo said the public should work with the government in ensuring that corruption was eradicated.
Article continues after this advertisementBartolome, DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas, DoJ Secretary Leila de Lima, and MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino signed the Memorandum of Understanding for the campaign which encouraged the public to inform authorities about incidents of bribery to law enforcers. The officials urged motorists to resist the temptation to bribe law enforcers and reminded enforcers not to give in.
The agencies urged the public to send their complaints or information on bribery to their campaign’s hotline for text messages 09188882749. Campaign stickers with the hotline and the slogan Kilos Laban sa Kotong were also distributed to transport groups.
Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that “the initiative was necessary” to restore the public’s trust and confidence on law enforcers. She said that bribery has “cast a bad light on the rest of us in public service” and has given “government service a bad name.”
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino said they supported the campaign as the agency enforcing traffic rules, saying that bribery during traffic violations was a “menace.”
Roxas pledged support to the campaign saying “all out kami sa DOTC…di lang pirmahan tapos kalimutan na (we’re all out for DoTC..it’s not all about signing then forget everything).” He said that incidence of “kotong” was a big deal to drivers.
“Law enforcers should be the protectors from those who abuse…the truth is, traffic enforcers are susceptible to temptation,” said de Lima.
