‘Ninja’ cops charged in court for recycling seized ‘shabu’

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged in court four “ninja” cops for their alleged failure to account for two suitcases containing more than 50 kilograms of “shabu” seized during an “unreported” buy-bust operation in Pampanga in 2013.

Police officers who take part in antidrug operations, seize the contraband, and then turn around and sell the confiscated drugs are dubbed “ninja” cops.

Charged in the Regional Trial Court in Angeles City with violation of Republic Act No. 9165—the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002—were Chief Insp. Bienvenido P. Reydado, Chief Insp. Arnulfo G. Ibañez, Senior Insp. Romel N. dela Vega, PO 1 Rommel C. Raquipiso and eight John Does.

They face charges of misappropriation, misapplication and failure to account for confiscated and seized dangerous drugs.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit through Senior Supt. Albert Ignatius D. Ferro.

Chinese suspects released

The complaint accused Reydado, head of Pampanga’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Team, and the other respondents with failure to account for the suitcases of shabu confiscated in an operation on Aug. 28, 2013.

The group also allegedly failed to account for a Hyundai Starex van and a Toyota Camry sedan taken in the same operation.

The complaint included testimony by two witnesses who were part of Reydado’s team who said the latter instructed them not to document the operation and not to process the Chinese nationals who were arrested as a result.

The two Chinese, Yang Fang Ping and Tony Sy Chan, were eventually released, according to the witnesses who were also police officers.

One witness, SPO1 Oliver Padilla, said he and the other witness, SPO1 Martin Santiago, were accused by Reydado and the others  of “burning” their “personal” drug operations by reporting them to higher-ups.

Unlicensed guns

During service of the search warrant, the authorities found several unlicensed firearms, vehicles and P2.6 million in cash in Reydado’s “safe house” in Balagtas, Bulacan.

Among the vehicles were a blue Mitsubishi Montero and two Yamaha motorcycles. Ferro said the vehicles were not listed in Reydado’s statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.

He said that a check with the PNP Crime Laboratory showed Reydado’s group failed to turn over the confiscated drugs.

Reydado denied the accusations, saying a court had dismissed the search warrant issued against him.

But the DOJ said the warrant that was quashed by the court was for illegal possession of firearms.