2 Manila enforcers dismissed over viral 'kotong'

Two traffic enforcers from the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) were outright dismissed after they were filmed through a mobile phone camera allegedly extorting money from a truck driver they had accosted for violating traffic rules at Fajardo corner AH Lacson Avenue, Sampaloc, on Friday, 18 July, 2025.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, after the video went viral, immediately ordered MTPB Chief Dennis Viaje to prepare the dismissal order for the two personnel in line with the city’s “one strike” policy against any traffic constable found extorting money from motorists.

Viaje presented the two enforcers to the media in the mayor’s office—identified as T/E Emmanuel R. Yumul and T/E Laurence L. Montoya, both assigned as field enforcers under the District 4 office in Sampaloc.

“In the interest of the service, effective immediately, you are hereby directed to ‘cease and desist’ from performing your assigned task as traffic enforcers, for committing illegal exaction (kotong) against a traffic violator you recently apprehended along AH Lacson Avenue, District 4, Manila, which scenario was captured and documented in cellphone camera by a bystander and widely spread across various social media platforms reaching a large audience in a short period of time.

“Such misconduct not only adversely affects the morale of your colleagues but also brought disgrace to the entire MTPB organization.

“As such, you are hereby directed to surrender your uniforms and identification cards to the undersigned for proper disposition,” said the order signed by MTPB Director Dennis Viaje.