By: Jennifer P. Rendon
THE Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) on Monday confirmed that seven cops are being monitored for their alleged involvement in illegal activities.
The seven police officers are part of the 34 cops who were tagged in illegal drugs.
Five are assigned in Negros Occidental and one each in PRO-6 headquarters and the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).
But while most of these seven policemen are allegedly into illegal drugs, they are not considered as “ninja cops.”
By definition, a ninja cop is police officer involved in the reselling illegal drugs seized in anti-narcotics operations.
“So far, we have no record of policemen involved in recycling of confiscated illegal drugs,” Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson, said.
Instead of ninja cops, Malong said they prefer the term “cops with derogatory records” since not all of them are allegedly into illegal drugs.
One of the seven policemen has alleged links with the New People’s Army (NPA).
Of the seven cops, Malong said four were recommended for adjudication because of their links to illegal drugs.
The PNP has an adjudication board in the Regional Intelligence Division of different regions of the country to ascertain if cops are involved or not in the narcotics trade.
It was gathered that 11 of the 34 cops are still on live service but were already assigned to other region; 11 have already retired from the service, two were dismissed, two are dead, and one was marked AWOL (absent without official leave).
A few weeks back, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Aaron Aquino told the Senate finance committee that PDEA is keeping an eye on a “drug queen” who bought her drugs supply from law enforcers.
Aquino said he got his information from his assets and sources.
But the issue on ninja cops was further highlighted after no less than PNP chief Oscar Albayalde was also embroiled in the controversy.
On Monday, he urged the public to “move on” from the “ninja cops” issue as he stressed he is ready to face investigation to clear his name and spare the PNP from further embarrassment.