Senate resumes probe into ‘ninja cops’
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Wed, 09 Oct 2019 03:00:16 +0000
THE Senate has resumed its investigation into alleged “ninja cops” where former senior Philippine National Police (PNP) officials were expected to testify on these erring policemen.
Ninja cops are rogue policemen who recycle seized illegal drugs such as crystal meth or shabu and re-sell them.
At least 13 ninja cops had been accused of recycling over 100 kilos of shabu they supposedly seized from a Chinese druglord in Mexico, Pampanga in 2013.
The Senate committee on justice and human rights chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon invited former PNP chief Alan Purisima and former Central Luzon police chief Raul Delfin Petrasanta to shed light on the alleged link of ninja cops to drug trafficking.
Investigation showed that they confiscated 200 kilos but only 36 kilos were declared seized in a spot report prepared by then Pampanga police intelligence officer, now police Major Rodney Baloyo 4th.
It was Purisima who ordered Petrasanta to investigate the alleged ninja cops after he received a report that they started buying vehicles. Petrasanta later ordered the dismissal of the erring policemen.
The senator said on Wednesday’s public hearing, new witnesses would be presented and other evidence on the alleged illegal activities of so-called ninja cops.
“The people have a right to know how these ‘ninja cops,’ these corrupt cops, operate and they are entitled to justice. People want to know that the policeman that they have work for them. That they are still working for their welfare, for their safety. Having these corrupt cops is like being trapped in a hen house with a ravenous python,” Gordon said.
“It is really a betrayal of the President if these people continue because they have been paid well, ahead of the teachers. More importantly, they betray the people. They betray the people, they betray the President in spite of the fact that taxpayers’ money is given them to increase their salary,” he said. BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO