Online encyclopedia Wikipedia has not yet to put a clear-cut definition of hulidap. But the practice is so common that even an ordinary person is now familiar with the term. Hulidap is a combination of the Filipino terms for huli or arrest and holdup. It could mean an illegal arrest of innocent civilians for trumped up charges for extortion purposes.

The term is also lumped with law enforcers, particularly policemen.

The “hulidap,” which is commonly reported in Metro Manila, was given a face recently in Iloilo City with the complaint lodged against two members of the Iloilo City Police Office Intelligence Section (ICPO-S2).

These policemen were charged for serious illegal detention, grave threats, and extortion after they allegedly asked for P200,000 from a Pakistani businessman.

But whether or not the complaint against Olvido and Gabaua are true, it raises more questions on the integrity of our policemen, nowadays.

What compels policemen to extort? Is corruption inherent among most policemen? Are corrupt policemen born or made? Or are they just driven by the desire to make ends meet because of low salary?

Currently, the gross salary of police officer 1, the lowest rank of the Philippine National Police, is nearly P20,00 gross. On the other hand, a minimum wage earner in Western Visayas gets not even half of that.

Are policemen, or other personnel of prone-to-corruption government agencies, became corrupt because of the opportunities that lay before them?

Inherently-crooked individuals could be prevented from entering the police service. The problem now lies on how to straighten the flawed recruitment process.

During recruitment, an applicant would be subjected to a background check to reveal if the person has done something that could be alluded to fraudulent acts. There’s also the neuro-psychiatric examination that would help in determining if the person has criminal instincts or has the propensity to give in to graft practices.

However, these tell-tale signs of prospective corrupt men in uniform are subjugated by the meddling of very important persons, usually politicians, who would wield power in ensuring that their bets are accepted.

While it is hard to turn down to politicians’ requests, personnel involved in enlisting policemen could still assert power in turning down undesirable applicants, those who display proclivity that PNP is about power and authority.

It’s a long way to go to clear the police ranks with misfits but recruitment is a first step in signing up men and women who believe in PNP’s mantra “To serve and protect.”*