Ninja laki, ninja liit: PDEA chief describes drug-recycling cops’ methods

Cops involved in drug recycling come in two sizes: "ninja laki" and "ninja liit," Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Aaron Aquino said Thursday.

According to a report by Ivan Mayrina on 24 Oras on Thursday, Aquino said that “ninja laki” cops handle big-scale operations only, while “ninja liit” or small-time players operate through what they call “bangketa.”

“Ito manghuhuli ng isang suspek. Hindi ka muna dadalhin sa opisina. 'O, dito tayo sa bangketa mag negosasyon. Dito tayo s daan. Magkano?' E siguro a couple of thousand pesos papatusin na ‘yun,” Aquino said.

Other ninja cops adjust the severity of the drug charges that they file based on the amount of money that will be offered to them.

“‘Pag hindi ka nag-negotiate, fa-file-an ka namin ng Section 5 which is non-bailable drug sale. Pero kung gusto mo makipag-negotiate sa amin, makipag-areglo, Section 11 lang, bailable. Drug use lang o drug possession, so pwede kitang mapalaya. So, areglo o kulong,” the PDEA chief said, referring to the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

The list of ninja cops handed to President Rodrigo Duterte now contains 87 names, including those revealed by former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Benjamin Magalong last week.

Twenty-two out of the 87 cops on the list are still in active service.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde insisted that only less than “one or two percent” of the force are ninja cops.

Last week, Senator Richard Gordon suggested that a high-ranking official is also involved in drug recycling.

Even though he was not explicitly named by the senator, the PNP chief denied the allegation.

The Palace also expressed its confidence in Albayalde's integrity.

“General Albayalde has developed a reputation for [being] a man of integrity,” said presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo.

The PDEA chief agreed with Malacañang's statement.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has invited Albayalde to attend the hearing on ninja cops on Monday. — Julia Mari T. Ornedo/BM, GMA News