Albayalde on issue of ninja cops: Let’s move on

MANILA, Philippines — Stressing that there is no concrete proof linking him to the illegal drug trade, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde yesterday urged the public to move on from the issue of “ninja cops” or police officers recycling and selling seized drugs.

“I enjoin everyone to move on, now that the President has already spoken,” he said in a press briefing at Camp Vicente Lim in Laguna.

President Duterte earlier said he would not make a knee-jerk reaction to the issues hounding Albayalde, who is accused of protecting ninja cops under his command when he was Pampanga police director.

Albayalde insists there is no proof that would show he was ever involved in illegal drugs, saying these allegations were based on insinuations.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, a former chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said Albayalde intervened in the dismissal of 13 police officers accused of recycling around 162 kilos of shabu seized in a raid in Mexico, Pampanga on Nov. 20, 2013.

But Albayalde pointed out that no evidence was presented during the two hearings at the Senate that would show his direct involvement in the illegal activities of his former personnel.

On calls that he should opt for early retirement to save the PNP’s image, Albayalde said it is unnecessary as he would be bowing out of the service when he reaches the mandatory retirement of age of 56 on Nov. 8.

Albayalde believes efforts to destroy him are part of the internal power struggle within the PNP to prevent him from recommending to the President his choice of successor.

To show he is serious in weeding out scalawags from their organization, Albayalde has ordered a thorough investigation on the case of the 13 policemen.

He directed the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) to lead the review of the administrative cases of ninja cops in coordination with the Internal Affairs Service (IAS).

Albayalde ordered the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) to ensure that all personnel involved will remain accounted for at the administrative and holding units to ensure their presence in the investigation.

He directed all police units and personnel to fully cooperate with the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the reopening of the case as well as inquiry by different police investigating bodies.