Lim orders dismissal of 2 'hulidap' cops

"Policemen who engage in nefarious activities and abuses against innocent civilians have no right to stay a minute longer in the force."

Thus declared a dismayed Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim yesterday as he ordered that summary dismissal proceedings be instituted against the two mobile policemen who were positively identified by two Koreans as the ones who 'accosted' and then took their money near the vicinity of the Malate Church last April 7, or on Black Saturday.

Lim yesterday had a meeting with Manila Police District director Chief Supt. Alex Gutierrez where they discussed the issues surrounding the case and where the mayor told Gutierrez to see to it that administrative charges also be filed against the two cops turned suspects, identified as PO2 Reynaldo Faller Olivo, 37, of Blk.5 Lot 11, Model Community, Tondo, Manila and PO1 Vincent Paul Ubaldo Medina, 26, of 2253 F. Munoz St., Singalong, Malate, Manila. Both are assigned at the MPD-Station 5.

"The policy being applied on erring cops such as these two will be the same as with the previous ones who also went astray," Lim said, as he lauded Gutierrez and mobile chief Maj. Edgar Reyes for choosing to make Olivo and Medina face the music instead of coddling or harboring them.

Noting that the two cops have the ranks of police officers 1 and 2 and are therefore relatively new in the police force, Lim said: "Once again, I reiterate my call on all members of the police, including those who are yet planning on becoming policemen, that they should never consider entering the force as a quick means to make money because that is not what becoming a policeman is all about."

Lim also stressed that as he has said time and again, the badge and uniform must never be used as a license to commit wrongdoings or abuses against hapless civilians, as he frowned on information that Olivo and Medina were reportedly in their uniforms and aboard a mobile car when the incident happened.

In his report to Lim, Gutierrez said the two are now facing appropriate charges before the Manila Prosecutor's Office on the complaint of victims Lee Jun Hee and Baek Sung Kyun.

The victims claimed they were casually whiling time away and walking in Malate from their hotel at around 3 a.m. of the said date when the two cops, then aboard a mobile car and wearing police uniforms, accosted them and then took their money amounting to 20,000 in all.

Accompanied by Wesley Co and Leo Anthony Balantac of the Korean Embassy's legal office, the victims filed a complaint before the MPD-general assignment section and identified the policemen who 'victimized' them from a gallery of photos presented to them.

It was learned that prior to this, they were brought to a police formation where they did not find the two suspects.

Once identified, the two then surrendered to their chief, Supt. Jemar Modequillo, who turned them over to Gutierrez and Reyes.

Both Gutierrez and Reyes meanwhile, expressed dismay about the incident and said such acts will never be tolerated. - manila.gov.ph — ARA