KotongWatch (KW) - Summary Report (Apr-Jul 2012)

Prepared by: Reina Reyes, site founder/administrator KotongWatch (KW) is an online crowdmapping initiative to collect reports of 'kotong' rackets, stake-out points, and incidents (i.e., extortion by policemen and trafc enforcers) in Metro Manila and elsewhere in the Philippines. Site URL: www.kotongwatch.org (redirects to: www.kotongwatch.crowdmap.com) E-mail: kotongwatch@gmail.com Facebook/Twitter page: www.facebook.com/kotongwatch, www.twitter.com/kotongwatch Over 3+ months, KW site received 25 reports, 8 of which are marked VERIFIED: Category I: Kotong Rackets (total of 8 reports, 7 unique) Category II: Kotong Stake-out Points (total of 13 reports) Category III: Kotong Incidents (total of 2 reports) Category IV: Reports outside Metro Manila (total of 2 reports)

Category I: Kotong Rackets (total of 8 reports, 7 unique) 1. Regular kotong fee from public utility vehicles (jeepneys and buses) (3 reports) a. Trafc enforcers collect money from jeepney drivers, presumably in return for allowing them to line up in Recto corner, causing heavy trafc in area Where: Corner of C. M. Recto Ave. & Jose Abad Santos Ave./Reina Regente St. [1] Report URL (2): https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/19 https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/28 Date reported: May 4 & June 6, 2012 Notes: There are two independent reports of same modus operandi; both were marked VERIFIED. b. Bus conductor gave P20 as they enter Cubao ibabaw bay to civilian collector, presumably intended for MMDA ofcers who made eye contact w/driver (bus is Fairview-bound from SM Megamall) Where: Cubao ibabaw bay, in front of Farmers Market area in Cubao [19] Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/29 Date reported: Jun 22, 2012 c. Bus conductor gave money to MMDA enforcer at Crossing EDSA (Shangri-la) north bound Where: Crossing EDSA cor. Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong [15] Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/15 Date of incident: May 1, 2012, around 8:30pm 2. Selective smoke emission testing of vehicles w/diesel engines, over-revving engines to ensure failure, targeting private vehicles (only); enforcers (threaten to or actually) take away license plates (3 reports) a. Test results from LTO deputized centers not honored. Pay 1,000 pesos for receipt good for 6 months, after which you only have to pay PhP300 each time they stop you. Where: corner of Buendia and EDSA (near Forbes Park North Gate) [12] Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/8 Date reported: Apr 30, 2012 b. Kotong ambush every time. Where: C5-Kalayaan [13] Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/2 Date reported: Apr 26, 2012
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c. Makati ASBU set up emissions testing area for diesel vehicles. ASBU team do not wear their IDs, only their uniforms. Where: J.P. Rizal Extension, in front of Phase 2 Guadalupe BLISS [14] Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/24 Date reported: May 17, 2012 Notes: There are three independent reports of same modus operandi in nearby locations; all reports marked VERIFIED. 3. Plates sponsored by NBI, PNP, AFP, PMA, PNPA, QCPD, etc. available for PhP5,000 at the nearest gun store. Where: cars w/such plates visible around Metro Manila, plates sold all around too Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/14 Date reported: May 1, 2012 Notes: Commenter corroborates report (same day); report marked VERIFIED. Category II: Kotong Stake-out Points (total of 13 reports) 1. Swerving violation traps (4 reports) a. Trafc enforcers ag down private motorists for not being in right-most lane when turning right to C.M. Recto from Legarda, even though that lane is always blocked by jeepneys Where: Intersection of Mendiola-Legarda-C.M. Recto [3] Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/13 Date reported: Apr 30, 2012 b. Trafc enforcers ag down motorists for swerving to the right to avoid U-turn slot when in Buendia (Gil Puyat Ave.) gogint to Macapagal Ave. Where: Buendia (Gil Puyat Ave.) going to Macapagal Ave. [6] Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/22 Date reported: May 12, 2012 c. Trafc enforcers (of Pasay City) ag down motorists for making last-minute choice at the fork BETWEEN continuing to Sales Rd toward South Expressway OR making a U-turn back-westwards along Andrews Ave Where: Road bend from Andrews Ave to Sales Rd [9] Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/30 Date reported: Jul 14, 2012

d. Trafc enforcers crowd the ilalim side along the C-5-Ortigas Southbound yover (across Nissan gallery), apprehend motorists on swerving charges even as they crowd the two-lane exit road to Rosario or Ortigas-Medical City. Where: C-5 Ortigas southbound yover (across Nissan gallery) [17] Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/21 Date reported: May 8, 2012 2. Bad Trafc Sign Traps (4 reports) a. Newly-installed No Right Turn on Red Signal sign obscured by cables [w/ PHOTO] Where: corner of V. Luna and Anonas [21] Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/23 Date reported: May 13, 2012 (date of incident described in report: May 9) Photos:

b. U-turn signs have small print: Private vehicles not allowed. Unaware motorists agged down for No U-turn violation. Where: along EDSA northbound approaching Santolan [18] Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/17 Date reported: May 2, 2012 c. No Left-turn sign disregarded, causing confusion to motorists.

Where: along EDSA northbound to Santolan westbound (same as 4b) [18] Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/18 Date reported: May 3, 2012 Notes: External link w/photos: http://huli-ka.blogspot.com/2008/12/edsa-corsantolan.html d. No right on red sign hidden by a tree. Enforcers waiting once you turn right. Where: along Buendia (Gil Puyat) Ave. before turning right into Reposo (N. Garcia) [11] Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/7 Date reported: Arp 27, 2012 Notes: Credibility button marked up by 1 viewer; report marked as VERIFIED. 3. Must-turn left trap: Trafc enforcers ag down (novice) motorists unaware that to go straight, you must take the rightmost lane in Quirino Ave. Other 4 lanes are must-turn left lanes to SLEX/Osmena towards Makati. Where: corner of Quirino Ave. & SLEX/Osmena [5] Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/20 Date reported: May 4, 2012 4. Red light violation stake-out point: because car gets stuck in intersection due to trafc Where: Intersection of Aurora Blvd and EDSA [20] Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/12 Date reported: Apr 30, 2012 5. Bus lane violation stake-out point, as 4 lanes congest into 2 lanes (leftmost lane becomes U-turn slot, rightmost lane becomes bus lane) after coming from MOA circle. Groups of police or MMDA ofcials are alway in this area ready to catch everyone who steps on the yellow lane. Where: EDSA Northbound after Mall of Asia circle [7] Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/11 Date reported: Apr 30, 2012 6. Blind curve is frequent mobile unit stakeout spot. You know theyre there when [there is] a small buildup of trafc prior to the sharp curve. Where: Pasong Tamo extension (side of Mead Johnson) [10] Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/3 Date reported: Apr 26 and 28, 2012 Notes: Veried via comment corroborating report, marked as VERIFIED.

7. Beating the yellow light stake-out by PTPMO (Pasay Trafc & Parking Management Ofce) during evening rush-hour (6-8pm), charging PhP2,000 per violation and agging multiple vehicles per shift of trafc light signal. Where: corner of Andrews Ave. and Aurora Blvd., Pasay City [8] Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/10 Date reported: Apr 30, 2012 Category III: Kotong Incidents (total of 2 reports) 1. FX driver was asked for money by a yellow-uniformed police[man]. The driver gave him P20. (Reporter was passenger of FX.) Where: Quezon Blvd., in front of Quiapo Church, near Recto Ave. [2] Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/5 Date of Incident: Apr 23, 2012, 3:00pm 2. Reporter apprehended by MMDA enforcer when I just shifted lanes. After that, instead of clarifying my violation, the enforcer just asked me [for] PhP200 so he will let me go. Where: Ortigas Ave., in front of Meralco [16] Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/15 Date of Report: May 1, 2012 Category IV: Reports outside Metro Manila (total of 2 reports) 1. LTO Operatives in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao asking for money, may sukbit pang Caliber .45, No ID, in tattered uniform. Where: between Baluan and Datu Paglas, Maguindanao; mostly Purok crossing Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/26 Date reported: May 24, 2012 2. Kotong cops at Tinacagan police station in General Santos City. 24 hours on duty. Pag alang lagay huli! Where: Tinacagan police station along Tinagakan highway Report URL: https://kotongwatch.crowdmap.com/reports/view/25 Date reported: May 24, 2012 -- END OF REPORT -For responses, comments, or questions, please contact KW administrator via e-mail at kotongwatch@gmail.com.
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