Duterte’s offer of P5M for ‘ninja cops’ will be given to civilian informants, PNP says

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday clarified that the bounty offer of P5 million for "ninja" or rogue cops would be given to civilian informants and not to policemen who would run after them.

In a Balitanghali report by GMA News' Mariz Umali, PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said the increase of bounty from P3 million to P5 million would be a great help in cleansing police ranks.

Albayalde said this would encourage the public to give necessary information about erring policemen and their illegal activities to authorities.

Albayalde, meanwhile, vowed that even without the reward money, the PNP would still continue their intensified operations against policemen allegedly involved in irregularities.

On Friday, Duterte mentioned that he would give P5 million to anyone who would bring to 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.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque explained that Duterte's offer was not a call to kill "ninja" cops, but was only meant for their arrest.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) reminded that due process and the rule of law must still be followed in investigating rogue cops, noting that they also have human rights that should be respected.

Meanwhile, the report also noted that the total number of high value targets reached 9,972 as of August 15. The number increased since the "re-calibration" of police operations against criminality and illegal drugs last July 30.

In Zamboanga City, Police Officer 3 Ronald Bernardo and Police Officer 2 Maria Oliver Olaso were killed after engaging in a firefight with authorities. The two policemen were allegedly involved in "recycling" illegal drugs as well as protecting drug pushers since 2010.

On August 9, Police Officer 2 Ian Rey Abitona of Infanta, Quezon was also killed after an encounter with some security personnel, the report said. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News