Senate allowed Baloyo’s transfer from Bilibid to Angeles City Jail — Gordon

The Senate allowed the transfer of alleged "ninja cop" Police Major Rodney Raymundo Baloyo IV from the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa to Angeles City Jail in Pampanga on "humanitarian grounds," Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson Richard Gordon said Tuesday.

Baloyo has been detained in Bilibid since October 2019 after being cited in contempt  by the Senate Blue Ribbon and Justice committees over his evasive answers during a hearing on alleged drug recycling among members of the police force.

In an online interview, Gordon said the mother and wife of Baloyo came to his office and pleaded that the police officer be allowed to transfer to a detention facility that is closer to their home in light of the threat of COVID-19.

"Ang problema ko diyan ay baka matepok 'yan sa loob ng Muntinlupa dahil natetepok ang mga tao doon eh. Noong makita ko ang asawa, nakiusap naman nang husto," he said, noting that Baloyo was diabetic.

"Ililipat pa rin siya sa Angeles City Jail kasi non-bailable ang offense niya eh," he added. "The paper is already with the [Senate] Sergeant-at-Arms and I don't know if he's already in Angeles by now."

Gordon said he also secured the approval of Senate President Vicente Sotto III first before giving the go signal.

"Pero sabi ko dapat maingat din kayo baka may magligpit sa inyo... Kung gusto niyo bumalik kayo dito sa Blue Ribbon at magsabi kayo, kusang loob ninyo. Baka matulungan pa namin kayo lalo," he said, narrating the advice he relayed to Baloyo through his family.

Gordon did not mention specific dates as to when these events happened but he rejected the request for Baloyo's transfer to Pampanga last July.

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. — RSJ, GMA News