Duterte’s offer of P5M for dead ‘ninja cops’ probably not a call to kill them — Roque

When President Rodrigo Duterte said that he would give P5 million for a dead rogue cop, he probably did not mean actually killing a police officer accused of criminal activity, according to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

"Ang pagkakaintindi ko po reward money 'yun para sa magbibigay ng impormasyon sa ninja cops, 'yun po pagkakaintindi ko. Hindi naman po para mapatay pero para mahuli 'yung mga ninja cops," Roque said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview on Sunday.

"Sigurado po ako hindi naman po para pumatay 'yun. 'Yun po ay para magsumbong dahil ang ayaw ng Presidente 'yung mga alagad ng batas na sila pa 'yung lumalabag sa batas. Malinaw po kasi ang paninindigan ng Presidente diyan," he added.

The President's spokesman said Duterte's statements about killings should not be taken literally, stressing that the Chief Executive does not tolerate erring security personnel.

"Hindi talaga kinukuhang literal ang Presidente. Importanteng 'yung mensahe niya iparating na hindi niya kinukunsinti 'yung ninja cops at 'yun na nga sinasabi niya na magbibigay siya ng pabuya para ibigay sa kaniya," said Roque.

"'Yung mga patay-patay niya, salita lamang ni Presidente 'yan atsaka alam mo mga armado din naman 'yung mga pulis na 'yan," he added.

Roque also said due process will be strictly followed when investigating police officers accused of criminal activities.

On Friday, Duterte said that he would give P5 million to anyone who brought him a dead rogue cop.

"Kung dalhin mo 'yan sa akin patay, P5 million. 'Pag buhay bigyan kita diyes mil [P10,000]," Duterte said during the convention of regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago in Davao City.

"Ninja cop" is the label given to a police officer involved in the illegal drug trade. Duterte offered a bounty of P2 million for ninja cops in August last year, then raised it to P3 million a month later. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BM, GMA News