The Department of Justice (DoJ) has filed criminal charges against Police Maj. Rodney Baloyo IV and 11 other so-called “ninja cops” over their alleged involvement in the questionable 2013 anti-illegal drugs operations in Mexico, Pampanga.
“Charges were filed last week in San Fernando, Pampanga,” a DoJ official privy to the case said.
The charges were filed after a panel of DoJ prosecutors chaired by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Alexander Suarez found probable cause to indict the 12 “ninja cops”.
In the meantime, the DoJ official said the panel is waiting for the results of the raffle that will determine which regional trial court (RTC) and municipal circuit trial court (MCTC) will handle the charges.
The panel is also waiting for a DoJ order which will determine if the panel or another set of prosecutors will handle the prosecution of the accused.
Aside from Suarez, the other panel members are Assistant State Prosecutors Josie Christina Dugay and Gino Paulo Santiago.
The panel conducted the re-investigation of the complaint that was filed by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).
The case concerns the 2013 anti-illegal drugs operations in Mexico, Pampanga, where a team led by Baloyo was supposed to have arrested suspected foreign drug trader Johnson Lee.
Following the conduct of the preliminary investigation on the complaint, the panel found probable cause to indict the 12 policemen for violating Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, particularly, Section 27, Article II for misappropriation, misapplication or failure to account for the confiscated, seized and/or surrendered dangerous drugs; Section 29, Article II, planting of evidence; and Section 92, Artiel XI, delay and bungling of the prosecution of drugs cases.
Aside from Baloyo, those charged were Police Inspector Joven Bagnot de Guzman, Jr.; SPO1 (Senior Police Officer) Jules Lacap Maniago, SPOI Donald Castro Roque, SPO1 Ronald Bayas Santos, SPO1 Rommel Muñoz Vital, SPO1 Alcindor Mangiduyos Tinio, PO3 (Police Officer) Dindo Singian Dizon, PO3 Gilbert Angeles De Vera, PO3 Romeo Encarnacio Guerrero, Jr., SPO1 Eligio Dayos Valeroso, and SPO1 Dante Mercado Dizon.
The 12 accused were also charged with qualified bribery under the Revised Penal Code. (Jeffrey Damicog)