DAVAO CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday clarified “There is no general in the ‘Ninja cops’ list submitted to him by Interior and Local Government Secretary Secretary Eduardo Año.
During the arrival press conference at the Davao International Airport after his five-day official visit in the Russian Federation, Duterte said “Walang general doon, I am sure of that, sa report na dumating sa akin, wala,” he stressed.
He repeatedly said walang generals. ‘Yung na — nasa na-publish na, ‘yun na ‘yon.”
In dealing with the issue on alleged ‘Ninja cop’ , Duterte emphasized he needs to follow legal procedure.
He explained “Now, procedurally, ganito ‘yan. I cannot adopt the investigation of Congress as the work of the Executive department. Kailangan ko na i-review ‘yan, tapos kung tama lahat, eh ‘di i-adopt ko. But then, there must be a process. It has to undergo the procedural due process,” saying the PNP is under the DILG.
“He (Año) has to conduct the investigation, give the proper importance of the work of Congress in the matter of the investigation of the so-called ninja cops, then he must report to me now on what to do and his recommendation, And if I approve it, that’s it,” Duterte stressed.
On the fate of Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde, Duterte said “Nandyan pa siya, I have to wait for the report of Año, dyan pa sya (referring to Abayalde.”
Año has been tasked to investigate the involvement of eleven policemen who conducted a buy-bust operation in Mexico, Pampanga in 2013, which led to the recovery of 36.68 kilos of metamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) and a P100,000 marked money. The team is headed by ex-Pampanga anti-illegal drug operations task group chief Joven de Guzman Jr, along with 11 others.
During the course of Senate investigation last week, Lt Col Raymund Baloyo IV, admitted claimed he was at the 2013 buy-bust operation, and that 2 security guards were threatening their group that’s why they had to do the inventory of the drugs elsewhere.
But as the hearing went on, Senators Richard Gordon, the committee chair and Panfilo Lacson cited Baloyo for contempt and ordered detained at the New Bilibid Prison for being “very evasive” during the ongoing Senate hearing Thursday.
Yesterday, Duterte hinted “Yong Colonel na nasa news, yon na yon”.
Asked further about Baloyo, Duterte quipped “Well, that is his problem, not mine. Eh pumasok ka diyan. Mabuti’t buhay pa siya. G*** pala siya.”
Among those being investigated by DILG include:
- Senior Police Officer 1 Jules Maniago
- Senior Police Officer 1 Donald Roque
- Senior Police Officer 1 Bayas Santos
- Senior Police Officer 1 Rommel Vital
- Senior Police Officer 1 Alcindor Tinio
- Senior Police Officer 1 Dante Dizon
- Senior Police Officer 1 Eligio Valeroso
- Police Officer 3 Dindo Dizon
- Police Officer 3 Gilbert de Vera
- Police Officer 3 Romeo Guerrero
- Police Officer 2 Anthony Lacsamana
Duterte said he will wait for the result of Año’s investigation as well as the Senate investigate before he will give his piece on the reported drug recycling involving the so-called Ninja Cops.-Editha Z. Caduaya/NewsLine.oh
