PNP OIC Gamboa believes gov’t still winning drug war amid ‘ninja cops’ mess

Despite the "ninja cops" controversy in which some policemen allegedly recycle seized illegal drugs, Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa believes the government is still winning its fight against narcotics.

In a television interview on Tuesday, Gamboa deemed the present issue hounding the police force as a temporary setback.

"I think we're winning the drug war. The Philippine National Police is winning the drug war. This controversy that is haunting us might be a temporary setback but I assure the public that we can regain our stance and pursue our campaign against illegal drugs," Gamboa told ANC television.

Gamboa said the controversy was an isolated case that happened way beyond the beginning of the Duterte administration, noting that the present administration has been very serious in its campaign against illegal drugs and rogue cops.

Amid the controversy, Police General Oscar Albayalde stepped down from his post as PNP chief on Monday, days before his scheduled retirement on November 8.

Albayalde's name was dragged in the questionable Pampanga drug bust operation in 2013 in which his former subordinates allegedly recycled seized illegal drugs.

Former PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief and now Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong claimed that Albayalde intervened to curtail the implementation of the dismissal order against the 13 policemen who figured in the alleged drug recycling.

Albayalde had maintained innocence over the issue.

In a separate interview, Gamboa said administrative raps cannot be filed by the PNP against its former chief, Albayalde, once he officially retires from service next month. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News