Acting like a ‘kotong’ cop

When President Duterte asked for payment from the United States in exchange for the Visiting Forces Agreement, he acted like a “kotong” cop hiding behind a tree and extorting “barya” from a motorist even without violations.

The Duterte administration is also trying to squeeze taxes from ABS-CBN despite the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s confirmation that the network has paid its tax obligations. On the other hand, the government refused to send a collection letter to Manny Pacquiao for unpaid taxes worth billions of pesos.

It appears the government is trying to raise revenues on all fronts. Is it because the public coffers are empty despite the government having borrowed extensively over the past year?

ISIDRO C. VALENCIA
Taguig City