CIDG defends Senate report vs Albayalde, 13 ‘ninja cops’
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has defended the Senate investigation report on “ninja cops” that has been used as a basis in the refiling of a case against them and recently-retired top police boss Gen. Oscar Albayalde, before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The Senate has recommended the prosecution of Albayalde and his 13 subordinates involved in the controversial 2013 anti-illegal drugs operation in Mexico, Pampanga. The policemen were branded as “ninja cops” for allegedly pilfering and reselling more than 100 kilograms of shabu (crystal meth) seized from the raid. Albayalde was the Pampanga police chief when the operation was conducted.
The former PNP chief said in his counter-affidavit that the amended complaint filed by CIDG relied solely on the findings of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
“The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings and the specious and unsubstantiated allegations uttered therein – which form the only basis of the Amended Complaint against me-are wholly insufficient to establish proof of any act or omission on my part that constitutes an offense,” Albayalde said.
But the CIDG, in its reply pointed out that: “The Senate Blue Ribbon proceedings and the witnesses presented therein under oath are competent enough to establish probable cause against the respondents.”
“The overt acts of respondent Police General Albayalde, as then acting provincial director, Pampanga Police Provincial Office, was clear. He had direct control and supervision over the operation of respondent Supt. Baloyo and his team at Lakeshore, Mexico, Pampanga as of 23 November 2013 until he was administratively relieved on 26 March 2014,” it also said.
Albayalde claimed he was administratively relieved as provincial director of Pampanga and placed on floating status on March 26, 2014, but the CIDG said this was already four months after the large quantity of illegal drugs reported went missing.
“Albayalde was fully informed about every detail that was happening during the raid, including, but not limited to the marked money, pre-arranged signal, suspects’ arrest and confiscation of suspected shabu placed in one open luggage and one medium size box, the cash money amounting to P300,000 and the marked money amounting to P100,000,” the CIDG said.
It added, “Despite knowledge of the irregularities in the said operations, he remained mum and even applauded respondents Supt. [Rodney] Baloyo and his team for a job well done.”
The CIDG, in countering Albayalde’s affidavit added that the dismissal of the criminal case against Chinese national Ding Wenkun and Roel Cabag strengthened the allegations allegedly committed by the respondents in the case.
There are reports that Baloyo’s team originally arranged an anti-illegal drugs operations against alleged large-scale Korean drug trafficker Johnson Lee in a house he was renting in Woodbridge Subdivision in Mexico town.
But the 13 policemen allegedly released Lee in exchange for 160 kilograms of shabu worth P648 million, P50 million, and brand new sports utility vehicles (SUVs), and in his stead, presented Ding Wengkun as suspect.
During Monday’s preliminary investigation, only nine of the 14 respondents are present.
Present were Police Senior Inspector Joven de Guzman Jr., Senior Police Officer 1 Jules Maniago, SPO1 Rommel Muñoz Vital, SPO1 Dante Dizon, SPO1 Eligio Valeroso, Police Officer 3 Dindo Dizon, PO3 Gilbert de Vera, PO3 Romeo Guerrero Jr., and Police Officer 2 Anthony Lacsamana.
While Albayalde and Baloyo were not present, SPO1 Donald Roque and SPO1 Alcindor Tinio attended separate court hearings while SPO1 Ronald Santos never showed up for a preliminary investigation.
Senior Associate State Prosecutor (SASP) Alexander Suarez said Santos sent his counter-affidavit via courier last November 8.
But the DOJ investigating panel being chaired by Suarez opted not to accept Santos’ counter-affidavit because it was submitted after the deadline.
The DOJ panel gave the respondents seven days or until November 18 to submit their rejoinders.
Edited by KGA
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