78% of Filipinos believe there are ninja cops in police force

The SWS survey, fielded from December 13-16, 2019, found that 78 percent of Filipinos believe the accusation that there are ninja cops or police who allegedly sell confiscated drugs they seize in operations among members of the force. (File Photo: Philippine National Police/Facebook)

MANILA — Majority of Filipinos believe that ‘ninja cops’ exist in the Philippine National Police (PNP), according to Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released on Tuesday.

The SWS survey, fielded from December 13-16, 2019, found that 78 percent of Filipinos believe the accusation that there are ninja cops or police who allegedly sell confiscated drugs they seize in operations among members of the force.

Seven percent do not believe the accusation, while 15 percent are undecided about the matter.

This gives a net belief score of +70, correctly rounded, the SWS said.

Meanwhile, 23 percent of Filipinos say there are “very many” ninja cops in the police force, 44 percent say “somewhat many”, 28 percent say “a little”, and 3 percent say “almost none.”

By area, the net belief that there are ninja cops is highest in Metro Manila at +77, followed by Balance Luzon at +71, the Visayas at +69, and Mindanao at +65.

The survey results also showed that 50 percent of Filipinos believe the accusation that former PNP chief Oscar Albayalde is a protector of ninja cops while 13 percent say they do not believe and 37 percent are undecided. This gives a net belief score of +37.

The net belief that Albayalde is a protector of ninja cops is highest in the Visayas at +43, followed by Metro Manila at +40, Balance Luzon at +36, and Mindanao at +33.

Late last year, the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) amended its original complaint to include Albayalde who was Pampanga Provincial Police director when the drug raid involving “ninja cops” took place in 2013.

Albayalde allegedly attempted to influence the dismissal order against his 13 former subordinates accused of reselling seized illegal drugs.

On Oct. 14, Albayalde relinquished and went on non-duty status (NDS) before his mandatory retirement on Nov. 8.

No permanent PNP chief has been appointed since Albayalde stepped down amid the ninja cops’ controversy.

The PNP is currently headed by Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa as officer-in-charge while Interior Secretary Eduardo Año was tasked by Duterte to supervise the police force.

Duterte said he wanted Año to “fix” the PNP by ensuring a police force free from corruption and abuses.