Two payoff collectors arrested, revealed extent of corruption in Manila's public markets

Mayor Isko Moreno and two suspected payoff collectors photo from google (ctto)

MANILA, Philippines - Two suspected collectors of payoffs from vendors in Blumentritt market were arrested yesterday and revealed how the alleged corruption in Manila’s public markets work.

The two suspects were identified as Vilma Cortez, 48, and Jeffrie Solomon, 38, were arrested at around 8:45am by the Special Mayor’s Reaction Team, led by Maj. Rosalino Ibay, who went undercover as a vendor and received the marked money from the said police officer.

Cortez and Solomon claimed they were secretary and checker, respectively, of Bagong Maynila Development Corp., a firm allegedly accredited by the city government. Which was denied by Mayor Isko Moreno.

Major Ibay explained the suspects collected P20 to P30 three times a day from legitimate vendors and issued collection tickets not authorized by the city government.

Cortez questioned her arresting officers why she was being handcuffed “since her company had a contract with the city hall.”

She revealed to the police that the collection from Blumentritt market alone reaches millions of pesos weekly and she received P25,000 as her salary, excluding commissions.

Mayor Isko said those behind the payoff collection scheme disguise as city hall employees to sell orange umbrellas (former mayor Joseph Estrada’s color) to vendors in the city’s public markets and leased out stall space for as high as P15,000 per month.

“Now, these enterprising individuals are selling blue and white umbrellas, which is my color. For the last time, I’m telling you. Stop it,” Moreno said.

Isko feels sorry for the suspects, he would order the filing of charges of usurpation of authority, grave coercion and robbery extortion against them to set an example. And he promised to make similar arrests at all the public markets and sidewalks in the city.

The mayor signed his first executive order for “all procurement and bidding activities, contract signings, official meetings of city officers” to be streamed live on social media platforms to stop corruption.

Source: Philstar