Interior Secretary Mike Sueno on Tuesday warned “ninja cops” or rogue policemen recycling the drugs they confiscate in anti-narcotics operations to leave the police force because the Philippine National Police (PNP) will eventually dismiss them from the service if their drug links would be proven true.
“Ang masasabi ko lang sa inyo: umalis na kayo. Get out of the PNP kasi alam namin ang mga actuations niyo at saka kung talagang it is proven that you are linked, we will dismiss you,” Sueno said.
(All I can say is: get out of the PNP because we know your actuations and if it really proven that you are linked, we will dismiss you.)
The secretary said they already have the list of cops involved in the illegal drug trade, and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the PNP are “seriously acting” on the matter.
Not only will the ninja cops be kicked out of the police force, but they will also face criminal charges, said Sueno.
He also noted that PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has been very strict on his men involved in drugs.
“Si Bato, strikto ito, lalo na kung may mga pulis na nasasangkot. Saka may listahan kami ng mga pulis na nasasangkot sa droga and we are really seriously acting on this. Malalaman niyo na lang din ‘yan kung ano ang nagawa,” Sueno said.
(Bato is very strict, especially if there are police involved. We already have a list of police who are involved in the drug trade and we are really seriously acting on this. You will also know what will has been done.)
During the last day of the congressional inquiry on the drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) on Monday, kidnapping convict Jaybee Sebastian claimed he has a list of ninja cops selling drugs, which are seized in drug operations, outside the national penitentiary.
READ: Sebastian willing to tell all about Bilibid ‘ninja cops’
Sebastian, who, according to Senator Leila De Lima, was a government asset inside NBP, said the ninja cops could be blamed for the proliferation of drugs in the country.
“Kung nakahuli ng malaking droga, imbes na sunugin, imbes na i-surrender 300 kilos, ‘yung 270 kilos pag-papartehan para ibenta uli sa publiko. Pero hindi na pwede hulihin dahil pulis na ang nagbebenta,” Sebastian said.
(If drugs were confiscated, instead of getting rid of it, instead of surrendering 300 kilos, 270 kilos will be divided among them to sell to the public. But they can’t be caught because they’re police.)
Sebastian added that he is willing to “do some research” on the involvement of cops in drugs and furnish the Department of Justice (DOJ) the list. JE/rga
READ: Sebastian says slay try part of ‘ninja cops’ cover-up