DOJ will reopen probe of ‘ninja cops’

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) will reopen its investigation of the so-called ninja cops case, which involves 13 police officers accused of recycling crystal meth seized in an anti-drug operation in Mexico, Pampanga in November 2013.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra announced this on Sunday, adding that a new panel of state prosecutors would be created to conduct the reinvestigation.

“In the light of new evidence unfolding, and in the interest of justice, the DOJ will reopen the case of Baloyo, et al.,” Guevarra said.

Guevarra was referring to the case of Pampanga police officers led by Pampanga intelligence chief Maj. Rodney Baloyo who supposedly made millions from seized illegal drugs during a raid in Lakeshore in Mexico.

Some 38 kilograms of crystal meth, locally known as shabu, and a “substantial” amount of cash were supposedly seized during that operation.

But then Benjamin Magalong, now Baguio City mayor who was then head of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said that a separate probe found that the seized shabu amounted to 200 kilograms.

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

“Both sides will be given ample opportunity to present additional evidence,” Guevarra said.

“We shall try to resolve it in a month’s time, considering that this automatic review has been pending since 2017.”

President Rodrigo Duterte, while still on his official visit to Russia, said he would go after ninja cops on his return, as he had repeatedly vowed to get rid of police officers involved in illegal drugs before the of his term.

READ: ‘Angry’ Duterte to go after ‘ninja cops’ once back in PH

/atm