3 crooked polimen extorted money from us
By kaycharmedMD
@kaycharmedMD (381)
Philippines
February 6, 2011 9:25pm CST
So we were driving towards Greenhills yesterday, and when we were near the EDSA intersection, a patrol car drove beside us and signaled us to pull over. So we did. We thought it was just a "not wearing a seatbelt" violation. But when my friend got out, the policeman asked him for the car registration papers. Apparently his registration sticker for the year 2010 wasnt on his windshield and the police thought this could be another case of carnapping woohoo. So he showed all the papers he had including the unused car sticker. But then the more serious one among the 3 policemen said that they had to impound the car in order to make sure that the car was my friend's. So we argued with them because we had the necessary documents to support it, under my friend's name. The only violation he had was that the sticker wasn't on the windshield. But they insisted to keep the car and that we cannot get the car until Friday. So my friend said he's going to call his lawyer friend about this. The less serious policeman then immediately said "there's no need for you to call your lawyer, we just have to come to an agreement about this". My friend didn't want to because he told me he knew the police would just ask us for money that would go directly on their pockets. The police then said "just give us 1500 PHP each and we'll let this go. And we were like, what? No way!!! They insisted on us giving them the money so they would just let the incident go. But we didn't want to pay. If they asked for just 200 PHP each, maybe we could have succumbed to their unethical agreement just to get it over and done with. But no. So we didn't pay. They kept saying, if you don't pay, we're going to impound your car. Good thing my friend was able to contact his lawyer friend whose dad works for the army. He talked to one of the policemen and said if they continue to extort money from us, he would definitely report them to his father and his father would have them dismissed from the PNP and charges would be filed against them. He told them they should charge my friend with just whatever he violated, which is the sticker thing, and nothing else. Because really, we didn't violate any other laws. After that, the 3 policemen were really nice to us, even dropping the sticker incident. They said they hope we wouldn't rant them out because of what they did. We weren't really nice to them after that because they were animals. I can say with conviction (although Im not proud to) that almost 99% of the police here in the Philippines are like this. Show them money and your violations go away. Convenient? Not really. It shows how undisciplined and untrustworthy our law enforcements are. Tsk. So my friend and I secretly wrote down the names on their uniforms and gave them to the lawyer friend. I hope they learned their lesson. That's why the system is not improving here. The people who are supposed to uphold the law are the first to violate them.
7 people like this
14 responses
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
7 Feb 11
You should have called media's attention to this. The AFP and the AFP are now on the hot seat and they wouldn't want any more any embarrassment to be thrown their way. You're friend has the connection, I think it's just right to use that connection to do good by reporting those who violate the law.
2 people like this
@kaycharmedMD (381)
• Philippines
7 Feb 11
we most definitely made noise about this. as of tonight, my friend said he talked to his lawyer friend and he told him that his father (who' got connections in the PNP) already submitted the crooks' names for possible suspension or even termination. and im sorry to admit that i couldnt care less if they do lose their jobs. we try to make a living by a decent way, so that no one gets hurt and no one gets taken advantage of. but these policemen are just really disgusting, swearing to uphold the law, when they are the ones who are first to break the law. and for what? extra money? No i dont think so... I also told a friend who works for a small circulation newspaper that she can write an article about it. it's about time we start eradicating these monsters from position.
1 person likes this
@kameleon100 (89)
•
7 Feb 11
As much as we want to believe that there are good police out there, things like this happens and all our expectations crumble. I believe there are honest cops out there that's why it's important that we civilians help that institution remain clean. They are considered guardians and if it's the guardians who are the first to violate the law whom they are duty bound to uphold then we are in big trouble. The actions of the three crooked police officers are unacceptable and they deserve punishment. It is only right that they are exposed and be held accountable for their actions since only god knows how many innocent car owner had been victimized, victims who don't have the right connections and are too afraid to come out in the open and has kept their silence for fear since we are all aware how ruthless these criminals are. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise that they encountered someone who can stand up and put a stop to their crooked ways. These guys have their own families to feed too but they were given the opportunity to serve and live honorable lives but they chose the crooked way and they have to pay the price for it.
2 people like this
@anaknitatay (1335)
• Philippines
8 Feb 11
This should be a lesson to all of us. We should know enough about the law not to give in to these policemen. They cannot impound the car just because of an expired license.
Beware mylotters this is a scam and this kind of thing also happened to someone close to me and this does not happen only in Manila but the other provinces too! Their vehicle was stopped by policemen because they said that the second hand vehicle my friend bought was stolen and it had to be confiscated. Thinking it was only a mistkae that would be easily cleared up they gave up the vehicle thinking they could just retrieve it later.
Alas, they were able to clear up the whole mess but the car could not be traced anymore. They were passed back and forth from the impound and the policemen who said that it may have been "lost" or "mistakenly released."
It was through friends that the car owner later found it that this was their modus operandi and this has already happened to some people they know. They filed charges against the policemen, the case is still pending but as for the car I think it will take a miracle for them to retrieve their car.
1 person likes this
@beamer88 (4259)
• Philippines
7 Feb 11
Wow! P1,500 apiece? Is that the going rate of these scumbags now? That's 10 times the the fine of having no registration stickers placed on your vehicle. It's only P150. It's good your friend had connections. I pity those who do not. They might have probably paid.
1 person likes this
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
7 Feb 11
Hello Kaycharmed,
You were nice and even use diplomatic solution as having a lawyer talked to these people,this is officially cops corruption
If I were you i would have give them what they want and call XXX show on Abias Network then set them up with the REAL COPS so that i can have them removed from service and never go back to police work ever again
. I guess this is one of the reasons why I couldn't afford to have a CAR because of these crooked cops.1 person likes this
@kaycharmedMD (381)
• Philippines
7 Feb 11
The problem is, it's impossible to trust a cop here. Seriously, extortion is so rampant, together with other modus operandi to earn a little extra money with cops. I haven't met a cop who's no. 1 priority is upholding the law instead of violating it. and this is the sad reality. they think they're such big shots here. it's about time someone stood up to them. we definitely pursued our complaint and submitted their names and pictures for apprehension. i do hope they get what they deserve.
1 person likes this
@TheAdvocate (2392)
• Philippines
7 Feb 11
That was nasty! Apparently all the talk about corruption is true up to the lowliest level. Good thing your friend had the presence of mind to call your lawyer. Did you take pictures? I suggest that you pursue your complaints. Call the radio stations and tell them your experience. I understand that they should be vigilant about carnapping but it was obviously a ploy to extort money. So please, make noise about your experience!
1 person likes this
@kaycharmedMD (381)
• Philippines
7 Feb 11
yes i secretly took pictures using my cellphone. good thing they didnt notice what i was doing. it was really nasty. that's why the Philippines is not improving, because there are animals like them lurking in the society and preying on weak creatures. good thing we didn't pay. we're definitely going to go with our complaints. as of the moment, my friend has already given the names of these policemen to his lawyer friend and hopefully the necessary sanctions would be done. i dont really care if they lose their jobs. i think it's better if they do. they're a bunch of useless police who use the taxpayers' money for their own personal use. scums of the earth, really.
1 person likes this
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
7 Feb 11
I think the next time this happens it should be video taped and put it on youtube. i swear, they won't have a chance to make alibis. I don't think they are vigilant advocate because one thing for sure is they only want money out of you knowing that you are actually in a hurry.
they should do business and not law enforcement.1 person likes this
@TheAdvocate (2392)
• Philippines
8 Feb 11
@keycharmed: I agree, we're wasting precious taxpayers' money to give them a badge which they use to extort money. Are your pictures like the one taken by Inquirer showing money changing hands between a motorist and an MMDA cop? If it is, then maybe you can make money by sending them to newspapers. Or send to youscoop or bayan patroller. I think an effective way to address the problems is shame campaign.
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
7 Feb 11
oh wow that is very incorrect, immoral, and very rude of those policemen to have tried to get that amount from you.. they even dared to give an exact amount! i guess if it was us, we could have gotten their names and reported them straight back to the newstation.. ohh the news would love this!!
i would have recorded the whole conversation and video tape it with my cp. next time, be ready to do so this would already scare them away... (i hope)...
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
7 Feb 11
Wow that is horrible. It happens in the United States to but probably no where near the amount that it does in other countries. You should be able to trust cops not have to worry about them taking advantage of you and trying to get money out of you that they do not deserve. If you are speeding or something thats different they should ticket you but they shouldnt ask for money to let you off. They get paid a salary that is there income. Trying to make extra money pretty much by scaring people isnt right. I would have reported them anyway!
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
8 Feb 11
hi kay I had heard other reports of corruption in your countrys
police force but these 3 guys were really pushing it. Thats so
sad and I suppose a lot will just pay them to avoid the legal
hassle but your friend getting a hold of his lawyer is the smart
way to handle this.Its sad what you are saying as I imagine like'
we do here Filipinos look up to the police as working for the
good of the community not taking bribes and being completely
corrupt.
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
7 Feb 11
hello kay,
I've been facing this situation several times (yes,several times)
so each time those (crocs) would asks me to pull over ,i coolly do,and asks about my violation.
And listen to their dialog blah blah,and after that i only had one response...let me call someone (i always argue with traffic enforcer,who always find violation for bribery,so annoying,disgusting truth about "law enforcer" ugh!)
I also had my kids instructed when we're facing situation like this, to take pics of these crocs,record the conversation if possible (without their knowledge)write down their names and report them to their superior.
This thing won't stop as long as their driver's who consented these kinds of habit (yes,habit) feeding those crocs on the street.
Imagine that money they're asking from you..1500php each (big time crocs huh...
)they think they can scare everyone (dam*...)
you and friends should make a follow up move about those crocs..(they must be given disciplinary action)
have a great day
)they think they can scare everyone (dam*...)
you and friends should make a follow up move about those crocs..(they must be given disciplinary action)
have a great day
@greenpeas (998)
• Philippines
7 Feb 11
My blood is really boiling as I read your experiences with these 3 uniformed scumbags.
I do hope the dreaded Sparrow unit of the NPA is still around. If these 3 police patola scums got victimized by the Sparrow, I wont even shed any tears.
@EdnaReyes (2622)
• Philippines
7 Feb 11
It's good that you did not succumbed on their crooked things. Yes, all of them, not only a few do extortion things on people. Most of their victims are students who do not know how to react or do the right move. Our education system is lacking in this side, information s on how one should act when faced with a situation like this, having been accused of violating laws. I think it's time for our leaders to put information campaign on this issues!
1 person likes this
@chuyins123 (2112)
• Philippines
7 Feb 11
Sorry to hear that incident my friend. Yeah, there are really law enforcers who forget the real purpose why they are in the service. They have become obsessed with their powers and are trying to make a living or making money using their position as law enforcers. Lucky you, because you have a lawyer friend, but pity to those who doesn't have anyone to call on to. I hope those guys learned a lesson because of the incident.
That's why I would always say, that one way of eradicating corruption is not just a campaign against it, but to educate each common Juan Dela Cruz, so that each will know it's rights responsibilities, as such, without even having a lawyer, we can fight corruption by not giving in to law enforcers or government servants like those you've encountered. Only then, will we be able to see a greater Philippines. God bless our country. :)
Nice post. Have a great and happy life! :)
