Senators say Albayalde's resignation should not be the end of 'ninja cops' issue

While welcoming the resignation of Philippine National Police chief Police General Oscar Albayalde, senators on Monday said it should not be the end of the controversy involving "ninja cops," or policemen recycling the illegal drugs they seized from operations.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said Albayalde’s decision, while appropriate, is not a closure.

“I welcome the decision of General Oscar Albayalde, my mistah, to relinquish his post as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP). Given the gravity of accusations, which have further demoralized an already misdirected police force, his decision to step down was appropriate,” she said in a press statement.

“However, this is not closure. Ang desisyon ni General Albayalde na magbitiw sa kanyang pwesto ay hindi nangangahulugan na tapos na ang isyu ukol sa mga 'ninja cops' at iba pang tiwaling pulis na sangkot sa pagbebenta ng droga at katiwalian.”

Hontiveros’s late husband, Francisco Baraquel Jr., is a member of Philippine Military Academy Sinagtala Class of 1986, like Albayalde and Senator Ronald dela Rosa, also a former PNP chief.

Albayalde stepped down from his post amid accusations that he tried to protect 13 "ninja cops" who were his former subordinates years ago.

Senator Francis Pangilinan, for his part, said charges should be filed against Albayalde.                                                   

“[Nicanor] Faeldon, [Isidro] Lapeña, [Wanda] Teo Tulfo, [Vitaliano] Aguirre, Jason Aquino all resigned from their posts because of links to illegal drugs, corruption, or incompetence/negligence and yet this government has failed to go after them and has in fact assigned many of them to other posts,” he said.

“He and all the rest should be charged for at the very least enriching themselves using their government office — regardless of their having resigned,” Pangilinan added.

However, he said, the reality is: for a government that claims to be against illegal drugs and corruption, the administration “has acted in the opposite direction and has in fact coddled the corrupt and those linked to illegal drugs.”

“Kaya patuloy ang pang-aabuso sa pwesto: dahil hindi naman pinaparusahan ang malalaking taong nagkakasala. Actually, nire-recycle pa. Yung walang kalaban-laban lang ang kinakaya-kaya,” said Pangilinan.

Earlier in the day, Senator Richard Gordon said Albayalde’s resignation should allow the PNP to reexamine itself.

“A little bit sorry na nangyari sa kanya ito. It happened talaga dahil napakalaking kaso nito. I think his resignation will allow the PNP to reexamine itself para tignan sino ang mabubuting tao na pwedeng ilagay dyan talaga at ‘wag na nilang patulan ‘yang mga ninja cops, hulidap, o pinaiikot ang droga,” Gordon, blue ribbon committee chair, said in an interview with Saksi sa Dobol B. —KBK, GMA News