Pubdate: Thu, 08 Jul 2004
Source: Philippine Star (Philippines)
Copyright: PhilSTAR Daily Inc. 2004
Contact:  http://www.philstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/622
Author: Non Alquitran, The Philippine Star
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.)

PROBE ORDERED ON HULIDAP COPS

An irate Metro police chief Director Ricardo de Leon ordered a deeper probe 
yesterday on the alleged involvement of intelligence and anti-drug agents 
of the Western Police District (WPD) accused of hulidap operations, wherein 
they detained and released for cash a Fil-Chinese couple in Binondo, Manila.

Citing command responsibility, De Leon also directed Superintendent 
Marcelino Pedroso Jr., chief of the WPD Anti-Illegal Drugs Special 
Operations Task Force, to explain in writing why he should not be relieved 
from his post for the alleged actions of his men.

Reports reaching De Leon showed that at least four intelligence and 
anti-drug agents were involved in the "shakedown" against the couple, who 
owns a shop in Arranque Market in Binondo.

The daughter of the victims claimed the abductors demanded P800,000 in 
exchange for the release of her parents. The amount was lowered to P600,000.

The payoff was consummated at the parking lot of a fastfood restaurant in 
Luneta, reports showed.

Teresita Ang See, of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), 
reported the "kidnapping" incident to President Arroyo, who referred her to 
De Leon.

The Metro police chief ordered WPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro 
Bulaong to make Pedroso and his men as well as those from the intelligence 
unit available for identification through a "police line-up."

"The culprits should be identified and charged in court to teach them a 
lesson," said De Leon, as he reiterated his warning that he will not 
tolerate any wrongdoings by men in uniform.

He is in the thick of his campaign against extort cops, and the suspects 
are most likely to join the at least 97 erring policemen identified by the 
National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) since launching an 
anti-mulcting operation last February.

De Leon gave his assurance yesterday that there will be no whitewash in the 
probe against officers involved in the "hulidap" operations.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager