MPD official, 3 cops nabbed for 'hulidap'

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Police District (MPD) officer-in-charge Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla ordered yesterday summary dismissal proceedings against a police official and three policemen for allegedly extorting from motorists passing through a checkpoint in Tondo.

Inspector Ricardo Magtajas, Senior Police Officer 2 Roderick Lacangan, SPO1 Romeo Batalla and PO2 Gerry Genalope – all of the Jose Abad Santos police station – were reportedly caught receiving marked money from two victims of their alleged extortion or “hulidap” activities, according to Rongavilla.

The entrapment operation was set up after Rongavilla received a complaint from 19-year-old Jonnalyn Trajano and Michael Navoa.

The complainants alleged that on Sept. 24, the four policemen stopped Navoa, who was driving a Starex van, at a checkpoint along Yuseco street as part of the police’s “Oplan Sita.”

During a body search, the policemen allegedly found marijuana sticks hidden in a cigarette pack on Navoa’s person. The four suspects allegedly took Navoa’s wallet, containing P5,000, and demanded P200,000 in exchange for dropping the case against the two victims.

Trajano said she was sexually molested by Lacangan. The policemen allegedly also took her iPhone before she was freed, but told her to return with P20,000.

“This is the breed of policemen I would be happy to part with. Misfits, rogue and scalawag policemen are not welcome under my command,” Rongavilla said.

MPD spokesman Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo said “Rongavilla would rather have a lean number of honest cops than a bunch of recalcitrant and rogue policemen.”

The four policemen are facing robbery-extortion charges, and Lacangan was also charged with committing acts of lasciviousness.