Shakedown at Station 4

Metro police chief Director Ricardo de Leon rushed to Station 4 of the Western Police District in Sampaloc yesterday following a complaint that its anti-drug unit was involved in hulidap activities, allegedly extorting money from a drug suspect in exchange for dropping of charges.

De Leon ordered a through investigation into the case of three men arrested during a pot session in Manila. The operation was conducted by the station’s anti-illegal drugs unit, which is headed by Inspector Alfredo David.

The Metro police chief made a surprise visit to the WPD-Station 4 at G. Tuazon corner Algeciras streets at around 11:10 a.m. yesterday to personally clarify the allegations of the hulidap activity.

Based on allegations, David’s men arrested the three men in Sampaloc last Friday night. Upon their arrival at the station, the anti-drug officers allegedly demanded P70,000 to P500,000 from the arrested suspects.

It was at the point when one of the suspects called a relative, who in turn sought the help of Philippine National Police chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. The PNP chief reportedly relayed the information to De Leon, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office.

However, Superintendent Manolo Martinez, chief of WPD-Station 4, denied there was hulidap involved in the case, saying all three suspects continue to be detained at police headquarters.

"The story was blown out of proportion, but we are open to any investigation," said Martinez, who noted that the suspects were also charged for possession and use of illegal drugs.

"There was no hulidap, only procedural lapses, in which my men failed to immediately subject the arrested suspects for drug tests, which would bolster charges against them. But under the law, a drug suspect can be tested for drugs within 36 hours, a drug test can still be done," he noted.

He welcomed the investigation, which he said, would help clear them from accusations of wrongdoing.

"I will not condone any wrongdoing from my men, but when I know they are merely doing their job, I will stand by them," Martinez said.

Acting WPD director Senior Superintendent Juanito de Guzman, who is leading the investigation, said De Leon has ordered the relief of David; Superintendent Ferdinand Quirante, the deputy commander of WPD-Station 4; SPO1 Ernesto Manaois, SPO1 Wilfredo Sanchez, PO3 Reynaldo Geneta and Po3 Reynaldo Robles.

De Leon said Quirante would be relieved for command responsibility since he was the duty officer at the time the alleged shakedown was being perpetrated.

De Guzman claimed there could be a violation in the police conduct of operations since there was no official blotter on the arrest made, no pre-operations report and no spot report despite the fact that some eight hours had already lapsed from the time of the arrest. The arresting team also failed to produce a request for laboratory analysis on the alleged drug specimen seized from the suspect.

"Although the arrest was legitimate, there is a clear evidence that a shakedown or extortion on the suspect was about to be committed. What is being questioned here is the alleged demand of cash from the suspect," De Guzman said.

De Guzman also found out that Geneta, Manaois and Sanchez are not part of the station’s anti-drug team, but were operatives of the station’s anti-crime unit, hence are not authorized to conduct anti-drugs operations.