Judge OKs reinvestigation of 2 cops in EDSA ‘hulidap’

MANILA, Philippines - A Mandaluyong judge approved yesterday the appeal for reinvestigation sought by two police officers accused of involvement in the P2.1-million “hulidap” along EDSA.

Judge Carlos Valenzuela of the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 213 approved the plea filed by sacked La Loma police station deputy commander Chief Inspector Joseph de Vera and Police Officer 2 Jonathan Rodriguez of the Quezon City Police District’s public safety battalion.

De Vera and Rodriguez were not around during the resumption of the hearing on the kidnapping for ransom, robbery in band and illegal detention charges lodged against them.

They withdrew the motion to quash filed by their  lawyer Jason Cantil.

“There would be a conflict so we withdrew the motion to quash in order for the motion for reinvestigation to be granted,” Cantil said.

The complaints against the police officers were filed by Camal Mama and Samanodin Abdulgafur, employees of a businessman based in Lanao del Sur.

Other policemen tagged in the highway robbery were Senior Inspector Oliver Villanueva; Police Officers 2 Mark de Paz, Ebonn Decatoria, Jerome Datingguinoo and Weavin Masa; Senior Police Officer 1 Ramil Hachero, and Senior Inspector Allan Emlano. Dismissed Inspector Marco Polo Estrera remains at large.

The suspects have been accused of for-cibly taking Mama and Abdulgafur from a sport utility vehicle on Sept. 1 along EDSA in Mandaluyong.

A passing motorist took a photo of the incident and uploaded it on Twitter, leading to the police investigation that resulted in the identification of the suspects.

The suspects allegedly accosted and robbed the victims who had in their possession P2 million in cash that was supposed to be used to pay for heavy equipment in Subic.

They were brought to the La Loma police station, where the police officers confiscated their ATM cards and withdrew more than P100,000 in cash. Abdulgafur and Mama said they were released after at least eight hours in detention.