Bato says Albayalde OK with release of ‘ninja cops’ names

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Wednesday said Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde is agreeable to releasing the names of corrupt police officers who are engaged in the recycling and re-selling of seized illegal drugs.

Dela Rosa said the names of the so-called “ninja cops” would help Albayalde to “defend himself” amid the circulating speculations against him.

“Mas gusto niya dahil hindi niya alam how to defend himself kung puro speculation lang ang nakakarating sa inyo. Hindi talaga klaro kung what specific allegations are being made against him (It’s better for him because he does not know how to defend himself especially when it’s all speculations. It’s not clear what specific allegations are being made against him),” Dela Rosa told reporters in an interview.

Senators earlier agreed to give the Senate blue ribbon committee and the committee on justice the authority to divulge information on “ninja cops” which were revealed during an executive session.

Former chief of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and now Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong reportedly revealed the names of the “ninja cops” during the executive session.

READ: Magalong: Cops, convicted drug lords recycle ‘bato’

READ: Magalong to name ‘Agaw-Bato’ cops in executive session with senators

Magalong added during a Senate blue ribbon committee that a former police official of a Central Luzon province was also relieved over drug links.

It can be noted that Albayalde, who was then the acting police director of Pampanga, was relieved for command responsibility for an irregular anti-illegal drug operation in the province in November 2014.

READ: CL police chief recommends sacking of cop in drug bust scam

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon earlier said that Magalong also disclosed that an active ranking official of the PNP appeared to have been protecting his subordinates involved in the alleged illegal drug trade.

READ: Active PNP exec is ‘protecting cops’ involved in drug trade–Drilon

Dela Rosa said Albayalde is “irked” by the speculations circulating against him.

“Sino bang masaya? Masaya ka ba na dinadawit ‘yung pangalan mo? Galit siya kasi parang ni-rehash daw ‘yung issue na ‘yan na matagal na nangyari pa, noon pa (Who would be happy with that? Would you be happy that your name is being mentioned? He’s angry because it seems that the issue that occurred a long time ago was rehashed),” he said.