No mercy in anti-drug ops against ‘ninja cops’ — PNP

The Duterte administration’s war on illegal drugs will be even more relentless and chilling when members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) are involved in drugs, PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said.

“Ladies and gentlemen, just as we have promised our anti-illegal drugs campaign to be relentless and chilling, so it shall be. But more so when police personnel are involved, there will be no mercy,” Albayalde said during Monday’s press briefing at Camp Crame.

The phrase “relentless and chilling” was President Rodrigo Duterte’s description of the drug war during his third State of the Nation Address (Sona). The police force has since adopted it in its different anti-crime and anti-drug programs.

READ: Duterte: Drug war to remain ‘relentless and chilling’

According to Albayalde, the order of President to increase the reward for the arrest or neutralization of ninja cops, or PNP personnel involved in illegal drugs is a welcome development for its internal cleansing program.

“We welcome the monetary reward offered by President Rodrigo Duterte for the neutralization of more ninja cops from the police force,” Albayalde noted.

“This will encourage the public to provide us more information, however, even without an overall reward, the PNP will continue aggressive counter-intelligence operations against these so-called ninja cops,” he added.

On Friday, Duterte raised the bounty from P3 million to P5 million per erring cop, out of frustration with the recent spate of crimes perpetrated by active PNP personnel.

READ: Duterte raises P5-M bounty vs each ‘ninja cop’

After the increase in bounty was announced, police officers allegedly recycling illegal drugs were killed in two incidents.

“On two separate occasions recently, three PNP members in active service who are listed in the Counter-intelligence watchlist […] died in separate encounters in Zamboanga City and Infanta, Quezon,” Albayalde said.

“In Zamboanga City last Saturday, PO3 Ronald Bernardo and PO2 Maria Oliver Olaso, both assigned with Zamboanga City Police Station-9 were slain in an encounter with the composite team from the PNP Counter-intelligence Task Force, PDEA intelligence group and SAF,” he added.

Albayalde also revealed that both arrested a man in the city and confiscated four kilos of shabu, but declared only 500 grams as evidence.

Earlier, he clarified that policemen involved in operations against ninja cops would not receive the money from the president, instead, it is the informant who will get the reward.

READ: Albayalde: Police won’t receive reward for nabbing ‘ninja cops’

/vvp