Honest, patriotic cops urged to spill beans on ‘ninja cops’ mess
MANILA, Philippines – Honest and patriotic police officers, both active and retired, should come out and expose what they know about the “ninja cops” mess, House Deputy Minority leader and Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate and Bayan Muna chairperson Neri Colmenares challenged Monday.
“For our country and children’s sake, come out and blow the whistle on these corrupt and criminal cops. It is the only way to prevent a whitewash that seems to be now in the offing,” Zarate said in a statement, referring to the controversy where rogue cops allegedly sell illegal drugs seized from legitimate police operations.
Zarate also questioned the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s parallel investigation when the Senate has yet to conclude its own probe.
“Apparently, some quarters are now panicking and on a damage control mode to try to divert, even cover-up, this issue,” Zarate suspected.
READ: DILG opens ‘ninja cops’ probe
Colmenares, meanwhile, said it is “very ironic” that President Rodrigo Duterte demands due process when it comes to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde’s involvement in the controversy while “more than 5 thousand are already dead and were not given even a slight chance of due process in the war on drugs.
“We must be very vigilant in guarding this issue and should not allow for it to be swept under the rug. Otherwise, these ninja cops and soldiers would be emboldened and further expand their corrupt and nefarious operations,” the former House member added.
READ: Duterte wants ‘clear proof’ vs Albayalde in ‘ninja cops’ case
It was former PNP – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief and now Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong who first said then-Pampanga police chief Albayalde intervened in the case of the 13 Pampanga police officers tagged in alleged drug raid irregularities in 2013.
In 2017, the erring police officers faced demotion by a rank, instead of dismissal.
But in light of the ongoing Senate probe, they were placed on floating status.
Albayalde, who is retiring on November 8, had denied protecting the 13 police officers and vowed to refile the criminal and administrative cases against them, if necessary.
Last week, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Aaron Aquino, during his term as Central Luzon regional police director, finally admitted that Albayalde asked him not to implement the dismissal order against the 13 policemen. /gsg
READ: Albayalde takes more heat as PDEA chief changes tune
