Cops in Lapu drug raid face probe for alleged "hulidap"

Elements of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group, of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, who conducted a raid in Lapu-Lapu City last February 16, are now under investigation after allegedly demanding money from an arrested drug suspect "in exchange for downgrading the offense."

This was revealed yesterday by CPPO director Senior Supt. Carmelo Valmoria who already tasked the Provincial Investigation, Detection and Management Branch chief, Police Supt. Teofilo Siclot to look into the matter.

The task group conducted an operation in sitio Humay-Humay, barangay Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City and arrested Elmer Cosep, a resident of the place, last February 16. But the operation was tagged a "hulidap", according to Lapu-Lapu City Police Office chief Louie Oppus, after he learned that the arresting officers demanded P20,000 from the suspect in exchange for his liberty.

Responding policemen of Lapu-Lapu City went to said area after they heard of the report and found out that relatives of the suspect were already preparing the amount. These relatives had agreed to the amount allegedly demanded by the members of the task force to downgrade the offense from drug pushing, which is non-bailable, to drug possession, which is bailable.

But Oppus said that it was a case of drug peddling because it was a buy-bust operation.

Task group head Police Insp. Rolando Ong, who is conducting his own investigation, said his men already filed a drug pushing charge against Cosep; but if a bailable offense has been filed, he would have suspected his own men.

Valmoria, in a press conference yesterday, said "I am evaluating the personnel of the task group, and they will be directly assigned with the office of the provincial director." - Norvie S. Misa/MEEV