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.