Duterte raises bounty for ‘ninja cops’ to P5M

President Rodrigo Duterte has raised the bounty for bringing in dead “ninja cops,” policemen involved in the illegal drug trade, to a whopping P5 million as he expressed frustration over the slew of corruption allegations against the police and military.

In a speech during the Hugpong ng Pagbabago convention in Davao City on Friday, the President lashed out at scalawag policemen, telling them to shape up or face terrible consequences.

“Policemen have many abuses … I told you to stop it already … for ninja cops, I will raise the amount to P5 million if you bring him to me dead,” he said.

“If you bring a ninja cop to me alive, I will give you P10,000. I am not joking. If I say it in public, that’s true,” he added.

Mr. Duterte said he was exasperated by the series of controversies involving security forces and government officials.

“You better shape up. I will rise and fall on the issue of corruption [in government]. That’s enough,” he said.

Troops’ allowance, medicine

The President said he could not let pass cases in which police or military officials steal money intended for the troops’ allowances or medicines.

He was referring to Lt. Col. Hector Maraña, the dismissed Philippine Military Academy comptroller who allegedly misused P15 million in PMA funds, as well as Armed Forces of the Philippines Health Service chief Brig. Gen. Leo Torrelavega, AFP Medical Center (AFPMC) commanding officer Col. Antonio Punzalan and 20 others who face court martial for a P1.4-million corruption scandal at the AFPMC.

Almost a year ago in September 2017, the President promised to raise the reward money for the arrest and prosecution of ninja cops. The term refers to policemen involved in the illegal drug trade, or those who protect drug syndicates.

Offer to policemen

On Friday, the President said he was making the offer to policemen who do not want to turn to illegal activities but want to earn money.

“You policemen, if you do not want to do bad things, this is a legal way. I’m not telling you to kill them. But if you bring them to me alive, I’ll give you P10,000. I might even kick you,” he said.

He said scalawag cops who were into the illegal drug trade would have an additional P1 million on their heads for each month that they refused to turn themselves in.

“Surrender within 48 hours. If you don’t, I will add P1 million per month. I want it that way. There’s money, so I should spend it,” the President said.

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