‘Hulidap’ cop, cohort nabbed in Manila

A rookie policeman and his civilian companion implicated in a "hulidap" operation, involving the alleged abduction and extortion of a Filipino-Chinese businessman, were arrested before dawn yesterday.

Arrested were Police Officer 1 Arnold Malay, detailed at the Western Police District-Anti Illegal Drugs and his companion Richard Santos, 29, of 3576 Makisig street, Bacood, Sta. Mesa, Manila.

The STAR tried to contact Malay for his side but to no avail.

Senior Superintendent Ernesto Ibay, chief of the WPD-Special Operation Group, said Santos was arrested shortly after receiving money from the wife of Huang while Malay was nabbed when Santos claimed it was the cop who instructed him to get the money.

Raiders found the complainant Huang Shu Quan, 28, a resident of Binondo, Manila at the WPD-AID at around 3 a.m. yesterday.

Huang told Ibay that Santos’ group blocked his path and forced him inside a van, where he was frisked. When the group failed to find anything on the trader, one of them allegedly "produced" a sachet filled with white substance, which they said was shabu.

Upon reaching the corner of San Fernando and Sto. Cristo streets in Binondo, Huang said a Chinese interpreter boarded that van and talked to him and informed him about the possible charges of possession of illegal drugs unless he can produce P100,000.

Huang said he haggled with the suspects until the amount was lowered to P46,000. Huang called his wife to come up with the money, after which the victim was brought to headquarters.

Unknown to the suspects, the victim’s wife, assisted by family friend Tony Uy, sought help from the SOG, which set the entrapment.

It was Uy who handed over the money to Santos, who later pointed to Malay as the one who instructed him to get the money.

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza said Malay’s case should serve as a lesson to all WPD policemen.

"Mulcting cops who prey on hapless civilians and other police officers involved in illegal activities don’t have a place in Manila. Those who continue tong collection and extortion would be caught, jailed and prosecuted," he said.