15 senators sign blue ribbon report on ninja cops —Gordon

Majority of the senators have signed the report of the blue ribbon and justice committees on alleged ninja cops in connection with the November 2013 police anti-drug operation in Pampanga.

Senator Richard Gordon said Tuesday that 15 of the 17 members of the blue ribbon committee have affixed their signatures on the committee report.

Ex-officio members of the committee Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Minority Leader Franklin Drilon have also signed the report.

“Right now, there are 14 of the 17 members of the blue ribbon committee who have signed. Si (Senator Lito) Lapid hindi pumirma, si (Senator (Leila) de Lima hindi pumirma, si (Senator Francis) Pangilinan pipirma pero nasa Amerika,” he earlier told GMA News TV’s Balitanghali.

“So that’s very, very solid. Ang nag-imbestiga niyan sina (Minority Leader Franklin) Drilon, (Senate President Vicente III) Sotto, ako, Senator (Panfilo) Lacson,” he added.

His office later said De Lima has already signed the report.

Gordon earlier presented the summary of the committee report which states that resigned Philippine National Police chief Police General Oscar Albayalde is "very liable" for graft in connection with the irregularities in the November 2013 drug raid.

He said Albayalde could be charged with Section 3 (a) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for calling Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director general Aaron Aquino, who was then Region 3 police director, and former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group deputy chief Rudy Lacadin, regarding the fate of the policemen involved in the operation

Gordon added that Albayalde, who was director of the Pampanga Police Provincial Office at the time of the operation, tried to persuade the two officials, “constituting a violation of rules and regulations.”

The senator said Albayalde could also be charged with Section 27 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2001 because of the acts of his men although he admits that he has no evidence yet directly linking the police official to the drug operation.

He also faulted Albayalde for protecting the Pampanga cops involved in the buy-bust.

With this, Gordon said he cannot understand the statement of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año that no administrative charges will be filed against Albayalde.

“Hindi nila makita ang ebidensiya. Pambihira naman, kitang kita naman na command responsibility. Hindi lang command responsibility. Idi-dismiss na nga 'yung mga pulis, e dinemote na lang,” he said.

Gordon further said Año is not a lawyer and that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is not the law but an agency implementing the law.

The PNP is under the DILG.

Año was quoted as saying President Rodrigo Duterte told him that no administrative charges will be filed against Albayalde, who is set to retire on November 8.

In an interview with reporters on October 28, Duterte said he will let the Ombudsman file criminal charges against the former PNP chief.

“Ang administrative (case) is wala na kasi mag-retire na siya. Kasi ito namang administrative, ang pinakamabigat, the heaviest penalty there is you are separated from service. Wala na. It becomes a fait accompli because he’s resigned — ah he's retired,” he said.

“If there's a criminal liability, kung meron, andyan kay Ombudsman,” he added. —KG, GMA News