MANHUNT ON FOR KALBHURO COPS

A new breed of cops-turned-gangsters are now the object of a massive
crackdown ordered by Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo T.
Reyes.

Known as "Kalbhuro Cops" or short for "Kalawit, Bangketa, Hulidap,
Robbery and Orbit Cops," these rogue police officers are now the bane
of law-abiding citizens particularly in Metro Manila.

Reyes vowed that "no stone will be left unturned" in the operation to
get the corrupt policemen, especially those operating in Metro Manila.
"Kalbhuro Cops" have replaced the notorious "Ninja Cops" known for
their illegal activities in the National Capital Region.

"Ninja Cops" gained notoriety for their involvement in robbery-holdup
operations in the metropolis in the early 80s, victimizing mostly rich
businessmen and tourists and disappearing without a trace.

The "Kalbhuro Cops" are involved in robbery-holdups, extortion,
shakedowns, planting of evidence and even kidnapping-for-ransom.

Deputy Director General Edgar B. Aglipay, Philippine National Police
deputy chief for administration and concurrent commander of the PNP
Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force, said the "Kalbhuro
Cops" are now the target of a massive counter-intelligence operation
by his men since most of these rogues disguise their illegal
activities as anti-narcotics operations.

Aglipay said the scalawags prey on either suspected drug personalities
or innocent civilians whom they snatch off the streets and threaten to
charge with a non-bailable offense if they fail to come across.

"These rogues are also known for planting evidence on their targets
who are left with no recourse but to heed their demand for fear of
being jailed even on trumped-up charges," said Aglipay.

The AID-SOTF intelligence division headed by Senior Supt. Federico E.
Laciste Jr. is spearheading the campaign to identify and arrest these
scalawags, he said.

Laciste, in a talk with the People's Journal, said they are now
coordinating their crackdown on "Kalbhuro Cops" with the Philippine
Drug Enforcement Agency, the National Bureau of Investigation, the PNP
Directorate for Intelligence, the PNP Intelligence Group, the National
Intelligence Coordinating Agency, the Dangerous Drugs Board and the
Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

"The crackdown is ongoing due to a very alarming increase in reports
of hulidap, bangketa and extortion activities involving rogue
policemen using anti-narcotics operations as their cover," Laciste
said.