2 cops nabbed for slay try on 'hulidap' witness

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines – Two Rizal policemen are now behind bars for the attempted “salvaging” (summary execution) of a pregnant woman, who is a witness in a case of robbery-extortion, or “hulidap” in police parlance, against them.

Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr., Calabarzon police director, has ordered round-the-clock security for the 22-year-old witness who survived 24 stab wounds and a bullet wound in the thigh.

Pagdilao rushed to the hospital after being informed of the “salvage” try and immediately ordered the arrest of the suspects, PO2 Mario Natividad and PO1 Antenor Mariquit, of the Cainta police and Rizal provincial police, respectively.

Pagdilao vowed to institute dismissal proceedings against the two policemen. “They have no place in the police service,” he said.

Natividad and Mariquit were arrested by a police team headed by Senior Superintendent Manny Prieto, Rizal police director. A third suspect, a certain Toto, is now being hunted.

The two policemen chose to remain silent on the charges against them.

Reports said the victim was found unconscious in a ravine along Cavinti Road in Barangay Pinagsanjan, Pagsanjan, Laguna at around 4 a.m. Thursday.

The suspects allegedly seized her Wednesday night at the Hilltop in Taytay, Rizal and forced her into a white car driven by Mariquit, where she was gagged and tied up.

Upon reaching Pagsanjan town, she was repeatedly stabbed and shot in the thigh. Thinking that she was already dead, the suspects then allegedly threw her into a ravine.

However, she managed to untie herself and climbed up the cliff until passengers of a jeepney saw her and rushed her to the hospital. – With Ed Amoroso