Kotong Area

I attended the Philippine Real Estate Festival 2007 last Sunday at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. While I was driving my way through Buendia in Makati, I saw a Nissan Murano making an illegal left turn from Pasong Tamo to Buendia, disregarding the oncoming traffic from the opposite lane. He was flagged down by some traffic enforcers. I said to myself he deserved it. However, I was suddenly struck with fear when I realized I will be going through an area where I have been victimized by kotong cops who flag people down with no apparent reason, except maybe to get some grease money.

My wife has been victimized once and I have been victimized twice in the vicinity of Roxas Boulevard and I was thinking about this while crossing Roxas boulevard and Macapagal Avenue, being careful and wary of the traffic enforcers. With a sigh of relief, I was able to reach the parking aree of the WTC. Once I accomplished my tasks, which was to get foreclosed real estate listings from participating banks, I happily got on my car and exited on Buendia. After crossing Roxas Boulevard, I said to myself I was home free... I was wrong. Near the intersection of Taft Avenue and Buendia, the bus in front of me suddenly made a left turn. I stayed on my lane and crossed Taft Avenue. Lo and behold, this brown clad traffic enforcer is flagging me down. I stopped and rolled down my window and asked what the problem was. He said I was swerving. What the f*$k I was telling to myself. I respectfully told him that the bus in front of me was the one who suddenly turned to the left. He then mumbles that I was not on the right lane and I was speeding and reckless. Speeding and reckless at 20kph?!?! He then asks for my driver's license which I give hesitantly. He then says he will have to temporarily confiscate my drivers license. Now this is getting absurd. He the says without hesitation "Is there anything you want to do so I won't have to take your license?". Now i get it, he's asking for money in exchange for letting me go. When I was taking out a 20peso bill, he showed me his list of traffic violations and pointed to an entry which states swerving has a 500 peso penalty. I was thinking of the inconvenience if I contested this and had to retrieve my license from the LTO so I just flashed a 100peso bill. The traffic enforcer got the money and said I should be very careful with my driving next time.

Oh well, at least I spent no more than 10 minutes and 100 pesos in exchange for spending a whole day lining up at the LTO office to get my license back and pay the 500peso penalty. Some might say I am contributing to the corrupt practises of these traffic enforcers but If you experience going to the LTO, you'll also swear that you'll never go back there ever again. I guess the only word of advice I can give to fellow motorists is to avoid that area altogether, there's just too many corrupt traffic enforcers and they will flag you down sooner or later.