‘Ninja cop’ syndicate ‘a thing of the past’: Palace

“He (Albayalde) told me that he updated the President on the status of the drug war; he told him about the so-called ninja cops syndicate and revealed to the President that that ninja cops syndicate is a thing of the past – that happened during the previous years of the previous administration,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing. (File Photo: Philippine National Police/Facebook)

MANILA — The “ninja cop” syndicate, or those involved in the recycling of seized illegal drugs, have been dismantled according to the Philippine National Police (PNP), Malacañang said on Thursday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said PNP chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde bared this after briefing President Rodrigo Duterte on the status of the campaign against illegal drugs.

“He (Albayalde) told me that he updated the President on the status of the drug war; he told him about the so-called ninja cops syndicate and revealed to the President that that ninja cops syndicate is a thing of the past – that happened during the previous years of the previous administration,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

“That has been dismantled during the term of former PNP Chief General, now Senator Ronald dela Rosa and during his term,” he added.

Panelo said while the ninja cop syndicate has been wiped out, police scalawags remain.

“If you are referring to the ninja cops that was a syndicate during the previous administration, yes. But we have police scalawags still involved in the drug thing,” Panelo said.

He, meanwhile, maintained the difference between ninja cops and police scalawags with the former being part of a syndicate and the latter operating individually.

“Ang difference daw is iyong ninja cop is it was a syndicate; sindikato, kumbaga talagang may conspiracy, may mga link ang bawat isa (The difference is that ninja cops are part of a syndicate, in other words, they’re part of a conspiracy, they have links against themselves),” Panelo said.

“Pero itong mga (But these) police scalawags, kaniya-kaniya…kumbaga mga individual cases, walang (operate individually, have individual cases, they don’t have) conspiracy among themselves,” he added.

The Palace official said Albayalde has assured Duterte that his agency has undertaken operations against these ninja cops which yielded 124 policemen killed during entrapments and a hundred others arrested.

Earlier, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Aaron Aquino said a total of 53 active police officers have been named ninja cops.

Aquino said the list of ninja cops came from Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, former chief of the PNP’s Criminal Investigation Detection Group (CIDG).

Asked to comment on the difference between Albayalde and Aquino’s conflicting statements, Panelo refused to take sides.

“I’m a messenger. That’s the message,” Panelo said, stressing that he was not dismissing Aquino’s statement but merely relaying what Albayalde said.

Panelo said he personally believed Albayade for having “developed a reputation for a man of integrity.” However, he also acknowledged that there were still some ninja cops left to wipe out.

He said the list of ninja cops has to be validated by the President himself.

“Hindi pa lahat validated iyon (They’re not all validated yet). That’s precisely why na kay Presidente eh (the list is with the President) so, the President will validate that on his own resources,” Panelo said.

The Palace official vowed to make public a list of names of the police scalawags.

“I will provide you with the names because the PNP Chief committed to me that he will submit the names including those arrested,” Panelo said.

Panelo said Albayalde did not mention whether Duterte had asked him about speculations on his involvement in the ninja cop syndicate but assured that the PNP chief still has Duterte’s trust and confidence.

Should Albayalde be on the list of police scalawags, Panelo said there will be no sacred cows.

“Kahit na sinong kasama, kapag involved, tatanggalin ni Presidente iyon. Hindi lang tatanggalin – may (Anyone on the list, if involved, the President will dismiss him. Not just dismiss-there will be) criminal prosecution,” Panelo said.

Anti-drugs drive succeeding

Panelo reiterated that despite police scalawags, Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs is “succeeding.”

“We are succeeding in the war on drugs. The fact alone that can you imagine na (that there were) 124 policemen killed in entrapment operations – successful ka (that means you’re successful),” Panelo said.

He said the PNP chief disclosed that his agency has dismantled PHP132-billion worth of shabu.

Asked to measure the extent of the police scalawag problem, Panelo said: “When even one policeman involved, it’s serious.”

Panelo, meanwhile, warned police officers from participating in illegal drug activities.

“If all members of the policemen are listening, huwag na kayong sumali doon sa 124 na napatay (don’t be one of the 124 who has been killed). Sooner or later, you will be entrapped and you might end up dead if you fight and resist arrest,” Panelo said.

In a speech at the Golden Topper Corporate Launch in Parañaque City, Duterte warned police officers against participating in the illegal drug trade or risk their early demise.

“There are some people, like policemen, you have to beg then they are at it again, and they sell drugs and they go scot-free and they think that they are the lords of this country. Well, I’m sorry to tell you, everybody dies in this world but you will go ahead first. Remember that,” Duterte said.

Panelo translated Duterte’s use of “kill” as “pursue you to the ends of the earth and put you behind bars.”

“Now if you resist, oh that’s the time you will be killed – in defense,” Panelo said.