MPD drug unit personnel sacked over alleged 'hulidap' — Mayor Isko
Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso. (Photo from Manila PIO)
Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso ordered the immediate relief of the personnel of the Manila Police District's (MPD) District Drug Enforcement Unit (DDEU) on Friday, Sept. 12, following an alleged case of extortion and misconduct filed by two motorcycle riders against them.
MPD Chief Brig. Gen. Arnold Abad immediately ordered the dismissed officers to report to the MPD's Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (PHAU).
“Walang lugar ang mga tolongges sa Lungsod ng Maynila, kahit pa sa hanay ng kapulisan. Kapag mali, mali. Hindi natin puwedeng palusutin ang mga abusado, lalo na kung ang ordinaryong tao ang pinahihirapan (There is no place for bad apples in the City of Manila, even among the ranks of the police force. When it's wrong, it's wrong. We cannot let abusers go free, especially when ordinary people are being oppressed by them)," the mayor stressed.
He explained that the move aims to restore public confidence in the police following allegations of extortion and misconduct were made against seven of the team's operatives on Sept. 9.
According to the two riders, they were apprehended by the seven officers in Sampaloc, Manila for alleged possession of illegal drugs. They claimed that they were handcuffed and detained from 3 p.m. until nearly 1 a.m. the following day.
One of the victims, identified as alias Chester, added that the officers also took P9,000 from his GCash account, his gold ring, and his friend's motorcycle.
They managed to escape from the policemen's custody after they stopped at an eatery.
The incident prompted Chester to seek help from the National Police Commission (Napolcom).
As a result of the complaint, the seven policemen, including a police major, two master sergeants, two staff sergeants, a corporal, and a patrolman, are now facing multiple administrative charges which include grave misconduct, grave irregularity in the performance of duty, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.