Arraignment of 2 cops in EDSA hulidap postponed

MANILA, Philippines - A Mandaluyong judge postponed again yesterday the arraignment of two police officers accused of involvement in the P2.1-million “hulidap” along EDSA last Sept. 1.

Judge Carlos Valenzuela of Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court Branch 213 reset the arraignment for Nov. 12 to give way to the motions to quash and for reinvestigation filed by the counsel of Chief Inspector Joseph de Vera and Police Officer 2 Jonathan Rodriguez.

Lawyer Jason Cantil said they presented the motion for reinvestigation to the court yesterday. “We are now waiting for the prosecution to comment (on the motion),” he said.

Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Lourdes Indunan said the court has denied the defense motion to transfer De Vera and Rodriguez from the Mandaluyong City Jail to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame.

She showed media a copy of the court’s one-page order, dated Oct. 1, denying the motion of De Vera and Rodriguez.

“The aforesaid motion ought to be denied based on the OCA Circular no. 76-2010 dated May 31, 2010 which directed all courts to refrain from committing detainees at the PNP custodial center,” read the order.

However, Cantil said they have yet to receive a copy of the court’s order.

Donning orange-colored detainee T-shirts, De Vera and Rodriguez appeared in court yesterday for their arraignment on kidnapping for ransom, robbery in band and carjacking charges.

Complainants Camal Mama and Sanamodin Abdulgafar arrived with their faces covered by black clothing.

Valenzuela set the arraignment of the case last Sept. 23 but postponed it after the defense filed motion to transfer and quash. He is also awaiting the prosecutor to resolve issues that the lawyers of the remaining accused had raised.

Prosecutors have yet to rule on the counter-affidavits of alleged mastermind Senior Inspector Oliver Villanueva, Senior Police Officer 1 Ramil Hachero, Senior Inspector Allan Emlano, Police Officers 2 Ebonn Decatoria, Weavin Masa, Jerome Datinguinoo and Mark de la Paz.

Of the accused, only dismissed Inspector Marco Polo Estrera and two unidentified others remain at large.