Victim tracks down ‘hulidap’ cop through Facebook

MANILA, Philippines - A motorcycle mechanic in Tondo, Manila identified a Manila policeman who allegedly robbed him by using the social networking site Facebook, police said yesterday.

Chris Labajo, 37, went to the Manila Police District headquarters yesterday and filed robbery-extortion charges against Police Officer 1 Albert Labarda of the MPD Station 4.

Labajo told Senior Police Officer 1 James Poso that a client, PO1 Jonathan Lunzaga, asked him to go to his house on Coral street in Tondo on the night of Jan. 8 to have his motorcycle repaired. Lunzaga gave him P5,500 to buy spare parts, he said. 

Labajo said while he was walking along Prudencio street at around 2 a.m. on Jan. 9, Labarda – who introduced himself as “PO1 Sabater” – and another man accosted him, frisked him and took the money.

Labajo told Poso that Labarda, who reeked of liquor, said he was being arrested for possessing a sachet of shabu. He said the policeman showed him a sachet as Labarda dragged him to his motorcycle.

Labajo said he tried to ask for the policeman’s identification card but Labarda’s companion punched and slapped him. The commotion attracted the attention of barangay watchmen and a councilman, who also asked for the policeman’s ID card.

Labarda and his companion, whom the barangay officials identified as Hambrey Baliuag, left the area.

Two days ago, Lunzaga found out about the alleged “hulidap” involving Baliuag, who he said was his schoolmate in grade school. Hulidap refers to a person in authority arresting someone on false charges in order to extort money, goods or services from that person.

Labajo said he and Lunzaga searched Baliuag’s list of Facebook friends.

He said he recognized Labarda from his Facebook photos.

The victim, accompanied by Lunzaga, confronted Labarda at the MPD headquarters yesterday. Labarda denied the allegation, but Poso said his alibi cannot stand in court.