SPD ORGANIZED HONESTY TEAMS TO GO AFTER KOTONG ACTIVITIES IN THE STREET AND IN THE WORKPLACE
Press Release Nr: 17072010 (July 19, 2010)
Always put dedication and loyalty in your job before doing anything. Think twice if necessary for you are not to be blamed for your fault and action if any, and we can not put it back if it is already done.
Public servants are given the responsibility not to be used by the dark but to put shine in the light. Let us be proud of ourselves for we are chosen to serve our fellowmen especially our country. If you in doubt, do not forget to ask for the Lord’s guidance. He is the best superior that we have especially when trials come. Do not do something that would compromise your service, think twice and exercise maximum caution.
As public servants we shall endeavor to promote a lifestyle that is acceptable and respectable in the eyes of the public, that is free from greed, corruption and exploitation. The public expects so much from the public officer to live simple, yet credible and dignified life.
In compliance with the Presidential directive to do away with the practice of using siren and to eliminate kotong activities, the SPD under the able leadership of PCSUPT JOSE ARNE M DE LOS SANTOS, District Director, sets operational guidelines to be followed by SPD Units in undertaking police operations against “kotong activities” and also organized “HONESTY TEAMS” to conduct an intensive SPD wide campaign to enhance the image of the Philippine National Police through a comprehensive program to weed out erring PNP personnel engaged in extortion or “kotong”, “hulidap”, mulcting, bribery, and other forms of illegal activities within AOR by some PNP members in the street and in the workplace.
Diligent intelligence gathering is needed to identify the units/offices and areas of deployment, susceptible to acts or transactions that might lead to extortion or “kotong”, “hulidap”, mulcting, bribery, and other forms of illegal activities including the personnel who are likely to commit or those who are already in such illegal acts. Thereafter, case build-up will be undertaken against police personnel or government personnel who maybe reported to be involved in mulcting and kotong activities in order to validate the derogatory reports before undertaking negation operation.
In addition, an active and consistent education and information dissemination campaign shall also be initiated prioritizing those police units/offices and areas of deployment that have been identified to be vulnerable to commission of misdemeanors, with particular focus on already known target personalities. This is taken only to prevent police personnel in these identified areas from engaging in mulcting activities. The education campaign shall concentrate in inculcating the core values of the PNP organization in order to avoid the occurrence or commission of illegal acts.
Those involved or who will persist in their nefarious activities will be arrested and criminally charged without prejudice to administrative sanction. The Chief of Offices shall be held liable under the doctrine of Command Responsibility for abuses of their respective personnel.
