Panelo: Duterte to take ‘formal action’ after Congress ends ‘ninja cops’ probe

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo during an interview with reporters after the Philippines-Russia business forum in Moscow on Friday, October 4, 2019. Photo by Christia Marie Ramos/INQUIRER.net

MOSCOW, Russia — President Rodrigo Duterte will let Congress finish its investigation before taking any “formal action” regarding the “ninja cops” issue, his spokesman said Saturday.

“As our Chief Executive has mentioned in many occasions, there will be hell to pay for those who become worse than criminals,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

“The President, however, will let Congress do and finish its investigation in aid of legislation before taking any formal action on the issue of these ninja cops,” he added.

The term “ninja cops” refers to rogue police officers who recycle drugs from legitimate operations and re-sell them on the market for a cheaper price.

Duterte is currently on the last day of his official visit to Russia before he flies to Davao City on late Saturday.

“The President continues to monitor developments in the Philippines while he is busy with his commitments in Moscow and Sochi, Russia,” Panelo went on.

“The President’s unyielding posture against illegal drugs and those who destroy the country, regardless of whether they belong to the government, by spreading these substances in our communities, will not waver,” he added.

Before leaving Manila early this week, Duterte told reporters in a briefing that he would let the Senate finish its investigation into the issue and wait for Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to complete his own internal probe before deciding on the fate of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde.

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

Albayalde’s name has been earlier mentioned by former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief and now Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong during one of the hearings conducted by the Senate justice committee on the issue.

READ: Magalong drops Albayalde’s name in ‘ninja cops’ probe

Magalong had alleged that Albayalde intervened in the case of the latter’s former men at the Pampanga police office who supposedly made millions from seized illegal drugs during a raid in November 2013.

But country’s top cop denied Magalong’s allegation saying he does not know the motive behind the latter bringing up the issue after six years.

READ: Albayalde, Magalong, Aquino back at Senate for ‘ninja cop’ probe

“Until such time that he (Duterte) says that he doesn’t have, the presumption is the General has his trust and confidence,” Panelo said in a separate interview with reporters after the Philippines-Russia forum here on Friday.

He was asked whether the President still has trust and confidence in Albayalde following the allegations against the PNP chief.  /muf