Trap fails to catch ‘hulidap’ cops

A recent entrapment operation against three Ermita, Manila policemen who have reportedly been the subjects of “hulidap” complaints went awry when two of them slipped past a police dragnet and the marked money disappeared.

The term “hulidap” refers to a practice by erring police officers of arresting people and telling them they would be charged for various offenses unless they shell out some money.

A report prepared by the Regional Police Intelligence Operations Unit (RPIOU) at Camp Bagong Diwa identified the policemen as Senior Police Officer 2 Ricardo Zshornack, PO2 John Taruc and a certain PO2 Yang.

RPIOU chief Superintendent Napoleon Villegas Jr. and Senior Superintendent Francisco Balagtas, chief of the District Intelligence Division (DID) of the Manila Police District, led their men in the entrapment operation. The report also named the complainant as Ligaya Panganiban, 58, of Paco, Manila.

According to the report, Panganiban handed over P5,000 in marked money to the three policemen in the Station Anti-Illegal Drugs (SAID) unit of the Ermita police station. All entrance and exit points at the police station had been blocked by RPIOU and DID police officers.

However, only Zshornack was apprehended while Taruc and Yang were believed to have slipped past the police dragnet.

The marked money was also missing, and arresting policemen believe either Taruc or Yang could have taken the money. RPIOU and DID police officers searched the SAID office and all its personnel, but did not search other areas and personnel at the Ermita police station.

Villegas directed Ermita police station chief Superintendent Rogelio Rosales to place Zshornack under custody, while Taruc and Yang were ordered to report personally to the RPIOU for investigation.

Should the two policemen fail to report for investigation, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will recommend dismissal proceedings against them and Zshornack.

A police source told The STAR that the three policemen have been the subject of numerous “hulidap” complaints, but always managed to avoid prosecution.