78% of Filipinos believe there are ‘ninja cops’ in police force — SWS

MANILA, Philippines — Seventy-eight percent of Filipinos believe the accusation that there are “ninja cops” among members of the police force, the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed.

According to the latest survey, only seven percent do not believe the accusation while 15 percent are undecided, giving a net belief score of +70.

Ninja cops are police who allegedly sell the illegal drugs that they confiscate during their operations, SWS explained.

Net belief that there are ninja cops is highest in Metro Manila (+77), followed by Balance Luzon at (+71), Visayas (+69), and Mindanao (+65).

Albayalde as “protector” of ninja cops

Meanwhile, 50 percent of Filipinos believe accusations that former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde served as protector of “ninja cops” while 13 percent said they do not believe the accusation, giving a net belief score of +37.

The net belief that Albayalde is a protector of ninja cops is highest in Visayas (+43), followed by Metro Manila (+40), Balance Luzon (+36), and Mindanao (+33).

Likewise, 23 percent said there are “very many” ninja cops in the police force while 44 percent said there are “somewhat many”.

Twenty-eight percent said there are “a little” while three percent said there are “almost none”.

The survey was conducted from December 13-16, 2019 using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide, with sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages.

Ninja cops controversy

“Ninja cops” is the term used for law enforcers who sell or profit from confiscated narcotics which became popular after 13 policemen allegedly recycled 162 kilograms of “shabu” (crystal meth) seized in a drug operations in Pampanga back in 2013.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, an ex-chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, alleged that Albayalde was among those who bought sport utility vehicles (SUVs) after the 2013 drug operation. Albayalde was the Pampanga Provincial Police Office chief when the raids took place in Mexico town.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Aaron Aquino, a former chief of the Central Luzon Police Regional Office, said Albayalde asked him then not to implement the dismissal order against the 13 so-called ninja cops involved in the operation.

Amid the issues, Albayalde stepped down from his post as PNP chief, ahead of his retirement.