Ex-top cop Purisima, other former PNP execs to testify vs ‘ninja cops’

Senate Blue Ribbon Chair Richard Gordon greets Former CIDG chief and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino and Former PNP Cief Alan Purisima before the start of the Senate Blue Ribbon Inquiry on the alleged Ninja Cops on October 9, 2019. INQUIRER.NET PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima and former Central Luzon police director retired Brig. Gen. Raul Petrasanta appeared at the Senate on Wednesday to testify during the resumption of the committee hearing on the “ninja cops” controversy.

LOOK: Former PNP chief Alan Purisima Central Luzon police director Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta show up at the Senate probe into the “ninja cops” controversy | @CMRamosINQ pic.twitter.com/jPRaJwdOx7

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 9, 2019

The Senate justice and human rights committee is resuming its inquiry into the so-called “ninja cops” or policemen who allegedly engage in the recycling or reselling of seized illegal drugs, particularly the alleged recycling of shabu (crystal meth) seized by 13 Pampanga police officers in an anti-drug operation in November 2013.

READ: Senate to resume ‘ninja cop’ probe on Oct. 9 

Purisima served as the PNP chief at the time while Petrasanta conducted his own investigation into the 2013 operation and filed administrative and criminal cases against the policemen involved.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III earlier said he expects something “explosive” during the resumption of the Senate inquiry as new witnesses and evidence will be presented.

READ: Sotto: Expect something explosive as new evidence, witnesses appear vs ‘ninja cops’

He added that he signed nine subpoenas in connection with the ongoing investigation.

Meanwhile, in an interview with dzMM, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Pentrasanta would be asked why he ordered the dismissal of the 13 Pampanga cops.

“Hindi ako privy dun sa kung ano’y naging usapan ni Chairman Gordon at tsaka yung mga bagong testigo, may idea lang ako kung sino,” Lacson said when asked about who may testify on Wednesday’s hearing.

(I’m not privy to what Chairman Gordon and the new witnesses talked about.)

“May mga active na police officers saka si Gen. Petrasanta will be one of the resource persons, yung original na nagpataw ng dismissal order, tinawag sya siguro para ipaliwanag kung bakit naging dismissal yung kanyang naging order,” he added.

(There will be active police officers and Gen. Petrasanta will be one of the resourse persons, the one who originally issued the dismissal. He may have been invited to explain why he ordered the dismissal.) /jpv