Senate panels cite alleged ‘ninja cop’ Baloyo in contempt

The Senate Blue Ribbon and Justice committees on Thursday cited in contempt Major Rodney Raymundo Baloyo IV, one of the 13 former Pampanga police officers allegedly involved in drug recycling, for giving evasive answers during the hearing.

It was Senator Panfilo Lacson who moved for citing Baloyo in contempt.

"I move to cite in contempt of the committee Major Baloyo,” he said.

Minority Leader Franklin Drilon seconded the motion “for consistently giving answers that were evasive.”

Senator Richard Gordon, committee chairman, approved the motion and said that Baloyo should be detained at the New Bilibid Prison.

Gordon and Lacson repeatedly questioned Baloyo on the circumstances surrounding the buy-bust operation in Woodridge Subdivision, Lakeshore View, Pampanga on November 29, 2013.

Baloyo’s statements contradicted the findings of the investigation conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group headed by Brig. Gen Albert Ignatius Ferro and the Region 3 police office Rudy Lacadin, barangay officials, and court records.

Former Criminal Investigation and Detention Group chief and incumbent Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong earlier said police officers reported they only seized 38 kilograms of shabu and some cash and arrested a certain Johnson Lee.

However, he said the investigation and reenactment they conducted showed that some 200 kilograms of shabu were confiscated. — MDM/RSJ, GMA News