FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF T I E  REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
e APR 28 
, i t : ,  ::i 1 
S E N A T E  
S.B. 2197 
Introduced by Senator Villar 
Explanatory Note 
“Kotong” happens when a law enforcement official or public official extorts 
or unlawfully extracts money or property through intimidation or undue exercise of 
their authority against any person facing apprehension or charges for violating or 
suspected of violating any law in exchange for protection against possible arrest or 
filing of charges. 
it occurs when a policeman tries to collect 
money from civilians by way of delaying the issuances of clearance or reports or 
dropping hints of having no gasoline to use for a vehicle or ‘)ang-gasoZina Zangpo or 
pampadulas.” 
In familiar terms, 
There are existing statutes to combat extortion activities of rogue uniformed 
personnel and other public officials, e.g., the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, 
the PNP Reform Act, the Administrative Code of the Philippines and the Revised 
Penal Code. 
The laws are complemented by various issuances and regulations 
providing guidelines proscribing kotong operations and extortion and sanctions on 
the said criminal activities. 
But mulcting or kotong has tainted the image of the country’s law enforcement 
agencies even if a negligible percent of public officerdlaw enforcers are engaged in 
this illicit activity. For example, in the statistics on Central Luzon vis-a-vis kotong 
in the area, 
only one percent (1 %) or 80 out of 8,000 policemen are involved in 
extortion and that most of them are neophyte cops with ranks of Police Officer 1 or 2. 
This bill is thus submitted in earnest, with the following hightlights: 
1. 
It defines the crime of kotong or mulcting, to remove scalawags in 
unifoiin and enumerates the public officersllaw enforcement agents 
covered; 
A set of stiffer penalty is imposed. Under the legislation, any person 
who shall violate this Act shall, upon conviction, be penalized by 
imprisonment of not less than six (6) months nor more than one (1) 
year, or a fine of not more than one hundred thousand pesos (Php 
100,000.00) or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the 
court. 
2. 


3. 
A system or reporting “kotong” cops or erring public officer is being 
established, using new mechanisms such as formation of “honesty 
teams”, dedicated communication lines and SMS. 
Early enactment of this bill is recommended. 
MA NY 
LLAR 4 


FOURTEENTI-I CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHLIPPMES 
& /p; 
Z[j ;\if’ :.-’ : 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Villar 
AN ACT 
DEFINING THE CRIME OF MULCTING OR “KOTONG’, 
PENALTIES THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
PROVIDING 
Be it enucled by the Senate und House ojRepre.rentdives qf the Philippines it? 
C.‘ongress assembled 
SECTION 1. 
The crime of mulcting or “kotong” is committed when a law 
enforcement official or public oTfcial extorts or unlawfully extracts money or 
property through intimidation or undue exercise of their authority against any person 
facing apprehension or charges for violating or suspected of violating any law in 
exchange for protection against possible arrest or tiling of charges. 
The law enforcement officials or public officials mentioned in this Act shall 
include law enforcement officials in the national or local government unit level 
incliiding but not limited to employees of the Philippine National Police (PNP), 
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), 
duly appointed barairgay tanods, environment police or forest guards, deputized 
traffic cnforcerdpersonnel and other apprehending authorities. 
Any person who shall violate this Act shall, upon conviction, be penalized by 
imprisonment of not less than six (6) months nor more than one (1) year, or a fine of 
not more than one hundred thousand pesos (Php lO0,OOO.OO) or both such fine and 
imprisonment at the discretion of the court. 
SECTION 2. Prosecution under this Act shall be without prejudice to any 
liability for violation of any provision of the Revised Penal Code or any other law. 
SECTION 3. 
The Philippine National Police, 
the National Bureau a€ 
Investigation and other law enforcement agencies must establish a system of tracking 
down “kotong” cops or agents or public officials with the assistance of the citizens 
taking into consideration their privacy, risks and safety. 
It may include but not 
limited to the creation or a devoted phone or communication line that will accept or 
process reports of extortion, installations of surveillance cameras to entrap erring 


policemen or public officer, formation of "honesty teams" in the organization that 
will handle reports of mulcting or kotong activities, mandatory and continuing 
education or seminars, and others. 
SECTION4. If any provision or part of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other parts or provisions thereof shall remain valid and effective. 
SECTION 5. All laws, orders, rules or regulations which are inconsistent 
with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby amended or repealed 
accordingly. 
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation, 
whichever is earlier. 
Approved,