Recto Avenue: Beyond the fixers
CONTINUING BUSINESS. The falsification business has been ongoing for more than 20 years.
MANILA, Philippines – Along Claro M. Recto Avenue, large boards of assorted documents lined up, together with vendors waiting for potential clients.
“Papagawa ho kayo?” a fixer asked. (Are you going to have something made?)
Recto has long been known for its underground counterfeiting business. Manufactured fake papers led people to dub the street ‘Recto University’.
The black market has been ongoing for more than 20 years.
“Diyan na ‘ko binuhay talaga. 1992 nagsimula ‘yung nanay ko diyan,” said Benjie*, a fixer and part-time operator who continued the family business. He was given stalls by his mom when he started working. (I was raised there. My mom started there in 1992.)
These businesses operate along sidewalks, directly near locations of security guards and Philippine National Police (PNP) units.
However, the illegal business has continued despite several raids having been conducted.
WELCOME TO RECTO. One of the many stalls by the entrance of LRT Line 2 Recto Station.
The fixers took orders by letting clients fill in details on a pad paper. For unknown document formats, they would ask for a sample from the client, or compose from scratch using the internet and dictionaries.
“Front lang kami,” Espe*, long-term vendor and Benjie’s mom, said. “May nag-gagawa, [naka]tambay lang tapos ibibigay.” (We are just a front… someone does it, usually on stand-by and then we give it.)
From the fixers, the request would be given to a runner who will pass it on to main operators. The operators would edit and print documents, give it to the runners and finally, back to the customers.
Fixers refused to name the operators for privacy, but admitted that there were several workstations around Recto and even in provinces such as Laguna and Cavite.
Falsification of Public Documents is punishable by law under Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code.
Other laws violated include MMDA Resolution No. 02-28 on illegal structures and obstructions, and municipal ordinances such as the Illegal Vending Act. Stalls also lack permits from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
Prison correctional penalties range from 1-6 months to 6 months to 6 years’ imprisonment and a fine of not more than P5,000 pesos.
‘Lagay’ is a common term among vendors.
It refers to the fee they pay to avoid imprisonment and to keep their stalls. The operators are the main beneficiaries of the money.
Operators work within several departments, and fixers would have to pay each one.
The amount depends on how much the two parties agreed on.
“Sa isang linggo nagbibigay kami ng P100. ‘Yung iba, P50. Pero siguro pumapalo ng mga P40,000 – P50,000 monthly. Mahigit pa minsan,” the 27-year old fixer said.
(In a week we pay P100. Others pay P50. But it goes as high as P40,000-P50,000 monthly. Sometimes even more.)
He admitted that some authorities, including police, are involved.
“Ilegal ‘yung trabaho mo. May kalaban kang pulis. Ngayon, ‘yung kalaban mo, kakaibiganin mo.”
(Your work is illegal. You’re against the police. Now, you befriend the enemy.)
Police: Turning a blind eye?
CLOSE ENOUGH. A Manila Police Station situated just across illegal vendors.
The police were conscious of the illegality of the business.
“Aware naman tayo. Kaso lang sa ganyan kasing pangyayari, we implement only municipal ordinance… kailangan kasi may complainant diyan,” Chief of General Assignment Investigation Section of the Manila Police Department and Senior Police Officer 3 (SPO3) Ronald Gallo said.
(We are aware. But in this case, we implement only [the] municipal ordinance… we need a complainant in this.)
They refused to arrest vendors unless they were ‘caught on act’ or a report was filed against them.
CAUGHT ON ACT? A police officer taking a break near locations of illegal vendors.
Asked on what ‘caught on act’ meant, the Chief said it was difficult to explain. He said that, despite seeing the illegal acts, arresting fixers depends on whether you are safe or not. (LISTEN: SPO3 Gallo’s clarification on ‘caught on act’)
Some police were allegedly involved in the illegal transactions, gathering money from fixers.
“Kung tutuusin kasama ‘yan sila e, ‘matik yan. Pero hindi sila yung tipong nakikinabang talaga… may boss,” the 27-year old fixer said. (When you think about it, they are involved, that’s automatic. But, they are not the ones directly benefitting from it… they have a boss.)
Justice for the Justice System
The Manila Police District denied allegations of corrupt policemen despite testimonies of vendors and first-hand evidence of the act.
“‘Yun ay isang paninira lang sa ating kapulisan. Paninira lang ‘yan na maling tularan. Hindi tama ‘yun. ‘Yun [ay] chismis, hearsay,” SPO3 Gallo said.
(That is meant to destroy the name of our police. It is a false statement that should not be tolerated. That is wrong. Those are rumors, hearsay.)
In 2013, 69% of the Philippine population believed that the police were the most corrupt institution in the country, according to the Global Corruption Barometer by Transparency International.
SPO3 Gallo believed otherwise, saying that the police were more ‘professional’ nowadays. Rather, he believed that stricter law enforcement and higher penalties will stop the falsifications.
“Mababa lang kasi ang bail recommended… nasa mga nakaupo rin kasi iyan,” the Chief said. (The recommended bail is low… it also depends on the authorities in position.)
WATCH. SPO3 Ronald Gallo on Falsification of Documents along Recto Avenue
Benjie is one of many fixers relying on the illegal business for day-to-day income.
“Dadating rin talaga sa punto na kailangan mo talaga ng pera, kailangan mo talagang harapin yung kahihiyan,” he said. (It will come to the point where money will really be needed, then you just have to face the shame.)
Raids have been conducted almost annually, but this remains as one of the strong reasons why the black market persisted.
LISTEN: Recto Fixer on Probability of Total Removal of Counterfeiting Business
For the fixers, the government should work from the inside-out to completely remove the business, which they thought would be impossible.
“Hangga’t may marunong, tuluy-tuloy yan. Hangga’t may computer, tuluy-tuloy yan. Hangga’t may papel, tuluy-tuloy yan.”
(As long as there are able people, it will continue. As long as there is a computer, it will continue. As long as there are papers, it will continue.)
*Interviewees have requested to keep their full names for privacy and security reasons.
