Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde has briefed President Duterte on the status of its campaign against ‘ninja cops’ amid revelations of the involvement of ranking police officials in the recycling of large quantities of shabu.
Albayalde said that he also provided the President of the names of ‘ninja cops’ whom the PNP has been monitoring and investigating during the meeting in Malacanang on Wednesday night.
“I just briefed him (President) on the update on our war against illegal drugs. We provided him the names and I also briefed him on the status of these so-called ninja cops,” said Albayalde.
And based on the list provided by the PNP to the President, there are 762 policemen who are now under the monitoring of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG), the anti-scalawag unit of the PNP.
The cops being monitored are either involved in the recycling of illegal drugs or under the payroll of illegal drugs syndicates operating in the country.
The IMEG, however, appears to be having difficulty running after the rogue cops since they have to be caught in the act of dealing with illegal drugs.
On Wednesday, Police Staff Sergeant Raphael Aves Justo was collared in a buy-bust at the National Bilibid Prisons Reservation in Barangay Poblacion in Muntinlupa City.
Seized from him were cash and a sachet of shabu.
Col. Romeo Caramat, IMEG director, said Justo was monitored to be using and selling illegal drugs, one time was through a video wherein he was seen using shabu with two young women.
Albayalde said the IMEG operation is a proof that they are serious in the campaign against scalawag cops in their ranks.
But Albayalde’s name was dragged into the drug recycling controversy as a result of a Senate hearing which tagged some ranking police officials as involved in the recycling of drugs through the “Agaw-Bato” scheme.
The modus is done by policemen who would arrest big-time drug traffickers but would keep the confiscated shabu for themselves and then sell it to a cheaper price. If a drug lord or drug trafficker is arrested, he would be asked to cough up at least P50 million in exchange for his freedom.
Albayalde said he discussed the rumors of his alleged involvement during a meeting with the President.
“There are some intrigues going around so I briefed the President on the status on our war on drugs,” said Albayalde.
He said it is up to the President to decide on the list of ninja cops they submitted to the President.
“We leave that up to the president. Let’s give him space, we leave that to wisdom of the President. He said that he will decide in due time,” said Albayalde. (Aaron Recuenco)