DILG vows fair probe into PNP chief’s  reported ‘ninja cops’ link

MANILA, Philippines  – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) assured the public that it will conduct an independent and fair investigation on Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde’s alleged link to the illegal drug trade, particularly the “ninja cops” issue.

“We support the PNP chief but that does not mean we will not do a thorough and fair investigation,” DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said.

“[Interior] Secretary [Eduardo] Año has been given a directive by the President to do a fair and thorough investigation and I can assure the public that is exactly what we can do,” he added.

Before President Rodrigo Duterte left for an official visit to Russia, he instructed Año to look into Albayalde’s involvement in the issue after the Senate committee on justice completes its investigation.

READ: Duterte on Albayalde’s fate: Let Senate finish the investigation first

Malaya said the DILG will consider Senate’s committee report on the issue.

“Statements under reports, therefore, testimonies have to be given due date so all of that will be considered by the DILG in the conduct of the investigation,” he said.

In the previous Senate hearing, incumbent Baguio City Mayor and former PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Benjamin Magalong said Albayalde, who was then Pampanga provincial police director intervened to stop the dismissal of 13 police officers involved in the November 2013 drug bust in Mexico, Pampanga marred by several alleged irregularities.

The anti-drug operation supposedly led to the confiscation of 200 kilograms of shabu, but members of the raiding team only reported 38 kilos, based on the investigation conducted by the CIDG then. /gsg