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.