3 EDSA ‘hulidap’ cops plead not guilty

MANILA, Philippines - Three of the nine police officers tagged in the P2.1-million “hulidap” incident along EDSA in Mandaluyong City last year pleaded not guilty yesterday to the charges of kidnapping, car theft and robbery filed against them.

Chief Inspector Joseph de Vera, Senior Inspector Allan Emiliano and Police Officer 2 Jonathan Rodriguez entered their pleas during their arraignment at the Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court Branch 213.

Jason Cantil, lawyer for the three policemen, sought the postponement of the arraignment but Judge Carlos Valenzuela denied his plea.

Cantil also filed a petition for bail for the accused.

Wearing handcuffs and orange detainee t-shirts, the police officers faced complainants Samanodin Abdulgafur and Camal Mama during the court proceeding.

The three policemen along with Senior Inspectors Marco Polo Estrera and Oliver Villanueva, Senior Police Officer 1 Ramil Hachero and Police Officers 2 Eronn Decatora, Weavin Masa, Jerome Datinguinoo and Mark de Paz were accused of robbing Mama and Abdulgafor in September last year.

De Vera and Rodriguez were arrested days after the incident. Emiliano surrendered to then National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Carmelo Valmoria.

The court has issued a warrant for the arrest of the six other policemen, who remain at large.

The NCRPO has formed nine police teams to go after them.

Estrera, De Paz and Datinguinoo were implicated in the fatal ambush of a kidnap suspect, Rolando Fajardo, in Calamba, Laguna last June.

Fajardo’s family has offered a P3-million reward for the capture of the police officers.

– Non Alquitran