De Lima wants NBP 'hulidap' cases probed

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima wants the reported cases of “hulidap” on visitors of inmates investigated after she confirmed The STAR report on rampant robbery-extortion and kidnapping at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa.

“I was able to confirm in my three successive days of visit to the (Bureau of Corrections) during the long weekend that there were really cases of hulidap,” she said. “Although in some cases, the complainants refused to cooperate (with authorities) for some reason.”

Speaking to reporters, De Lima said she believes the syndicate has cohorts inside the BuCor.

“The kidnappers are from outside, but they have a spotter inside who identifies possible victims,” she said.

“Previous incidents would involve wives or loved ones of inmates and the abductions did not happen within the reservation but rather outside, after their visits,” she added.

The STAR reported that four kidnappings took place simultaneously last June 18.

Complainants have accused law enforcers as the culprits – police officers in Metro Manila, members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents.

Several police officers and an NBI asset have already been charged in three different kidnapping incidents at the NBP.

It was learned the victims would be kidnapped with the use of an arrest warrant.

Presenting an arrest warrant, law enforcers would threaten to file charges against them if they refuse to pay ransom.

The hulidapers usually demand millions but would later agree to P100,000 or even P50,000.

De Lima said the “phenomenon of kidnapping and hulidap” in the NBP needs serious action.

“I am planning to form a dedicated team of NBI agents to dig deeper into that phenomenon of hulidaps,” she said.

De Lima said authorities are focused on determining whether Rolito Go was a victim of kidnapping.

“Based on the evidence, it seems that his claims have semblance of truth,” she said.

De Lima said they are set to hold a meeting with police today to discuss findings of parallel probes on Go’s disappearance before they could rule out the possibility that he had tried to escape.

After NBI agents conducted an investigation, Go’s story of kidnapping became believable, she added.

BuCor OIC named

De Lima has named Parole and Probation Administration chief Manuel Co as officer-in-charge of BuCor.

Director Gaudencio Pangilinan took an indefinite leave after Go’s disappearance.

“The OIC shall oversee the day-to-day administration of the operations of said bureau under the direction of the undersigned secretary of justice, who shall continue to directly attend to the management of BuCor with the assistance of the OIC,” Department Order No. 678 issued yesterday said.

Co will continue with his duties as PPA chief while being OIC of BuCor.

However, he would not have the power to act on “matters involving policy determination, approval of long-term contracts and transactions, appointment or dismissal of personnel, and other matters that go beyond acts of mere supervision or administration, or which, by their nature, are essentially within the authority of the secretary of justice.”

Last year, Co was named OIC of BuCor when then director Ernesto Diokno resigned after the unauthorized trip outside NBP of former Batangas governor Jose Antonio Leviste, a convicted killer.