Gordon rejects 'order' to transfer Baloyo from Bilibid to Pampanga

Senator Richard Gordon said Wednesday that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee would not allow the transfer of alleged "ninja cop" Police Major Rodney Raymundo Baloyo IV from the New Bilibid Prison to Pampanga.

In a virtual interview, Gordon told reporters that he received a letter from the Bureau of Corrections asking for guidance from the Senate as a court allegedly orders the transfer of Baloyo for more convenient attendance to trials.

"July 13 'yung sulat from the police department saying may court order, allegedly they have a court order. Nanghihingi ang Muntinlupa ng direction kung ano ang gagawin doon sa alleged court order," Gordon said.

"I know that Baloyo is from Pampanga and that the cases occurred in Pampanga, and he would be in his own element there. But that's not the point, the point is he has committed an offense," he said.

"He's been trying to get off Muntinlupa and the committee is not disposed, as far as I know, to release him... He will not be released," he added.

Baloyo has been detained at the New Bilibid Prison since October 2019 after getting  a contempt citation from the Senate Blue Ribbon and Justice committees for giving evasive answers during a hearing on alleged drug recycling among members of the police force.

Gordon said the Senate has the "absolute" power to determine where a person cited in contempt should be detained.

"Ang powers ng Senate kapag nagsinungaling ang isang testigo, pwedeng i-contempt siya... hanggang makapag-submit ng full report ang committee, doon lang siya makakalabas," he said.

Baloyo was among the 13 former Pampanga police officers allegedly involved in an irregularity-hounded 2013 anti-drugs operation—an anomaly that had also dragged down former Philippine National Police chief Police General Oscar Albayalde.

In January 2020, Baloyo and 11 other so-called "ninja cops" were indicted for misappropriation of confiscated drugs, planting of evidence, delay and bungling in the prosecution of drug cases.

They were also indicted for qualified bribery under the Revised Penal Code and for graft.

The accused cops were scheduled for arraignment at the Pampanga Regional Trial Court Branch 44 in March.

Gordon said Baloyo could just attend court trials via teleconference.

"Kung pupunta sila doon, anong sasabihin ni Baloyo? Kung sa amin (Senate) ayaw sumagot, lalo sa court," he added.

Amid reported COVID-19 deaths at the national penitentiary, Gordon assured the public that Baloyo's health status is being properly monitored.

"I think he has his own cell," he added. —LBG, GMA News