6 suspects in EDSA ‘hulidap’ face complainants in closed-door hearing

Six police officers tagged in the EDSA extortion incident met with the complainants in a closed-door hearing Tuesday as part of the preliminary investigation by the Mandaluyong Fiscal's Office, a Balita Pilipinas report said.

According to the lawyer of the police suspects, complainants Camal Mama and Samanodin Abdulgafur admitted during the hearing that they saw four of the suspects at the precinct and not at the scene of the incident, the report said.

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen if the prosecution will block the request of the first two police-suspects who were charged to be transferred from the Mandaluyong City Jail to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center.

Arraignment for the two police-suspects, Chief Inspector Joseph de Vera and PO2 Jonathan Rodriguez, was moved to October 8 after they claimed threat to their lives. Both are facing charges of robbery in band and kidnapping for ransom.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez has been suspended for 90 days over a previous administrative case, a tweet on GMA News said.

PO2 Jonathan Rodriguez na isa sa mga pulis na diumano'y sangkot sa EDSA hulidap, sinuspinde ng 90 days sa nauna niyang administrative case.

— GMA News (@gmanews) September 30, 2014

A separate report on News TV Live said an inquiry has been launched by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) and the PNP's Internal Affairs Service regarding previous administrative cases filed against the police suspects of the “hulidap” incident. —Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/KBK, GMA News