PNP touts internal cleansing, recruitment reforms vs ‘ninja cops’

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday touted its internal cleansing and recruitment reforms against “ninja cops,” or police officers who take a portion of illegal drugs seized in operations to resell them.

“The Philippine National Police reaffirms its commitment that ninja cops have no place in our organization,” PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement.

“Our internal cleansing process is strong and this is reinforced by our aggressive push to inculcate integrity and professionalism in each and every police officer… We are also keen on our hiring process to identify any lapses so that we can prevent rogue personnel from entering our organization,” he added.

READ: Marcos anti-drug ‘campaign’ more effective than Duterte’s, says Remulla

The top cop further touted that the agency had already filed cases and dismissed the implicated officers from the service.

This came after Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, at the destruction of P4.56-billion worth of illegal drugs in Cavite, claimed the practice of recycling drugs had been curtailed under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration.

For his part, Nartatez stressed, “To our police officers, let this be a warning to you that all ninja cops will be removed from the service.”

“Do not try to do any form of corruption because we will come after you. You cannot escape the long arms of the law,” he added. /das