‘Ninja cops’ issue won’t affect drug war credibility – Palace

Malacañang on Tuesday said that the scandal involving policemen who allegedly benefited from the illegal drug trade would not tarnish the credibility of President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-narcotics campaign.

“Hindi naman, because unang-una na-expose sila (the so-called “ninja cops”). Kung na-expose sila di patay na sila. Nasira na, na-derail na 'yung kanilang programa,” Presidential Spokesperson SalvadorPanelo said when asked if the controversy would affect the credibility of the President’s signature campaign, which is also facing allegations of human rights abuses.

Panelo added that “many” shabu laboratories had been dismantled and arrests have been made since Duterte took office in 2016.

“They [Filipino people] should be comfortable. The fact is the President has dismantled many drug apparatus(es) in this country and jailed many police scalawags involved in the drug operation and arrested many people involved in pushing the illegal drugs and many have surrendered, many have been rehabilitated.,” he said.

Weeks before his retirement, Philippine National Police chief General Oscar Albayalde’s name was dragged into the controversial anti-drug operation in Pampanga in 2013, as he was accused of intervening in the dismissal of his 13 former subordinates who allegedly recycled seized illegal drugs.

Albayalde was the provincial director of Pampanga at the time of the operation.

The PNP chief, however, while admitting that he had called then PNP Region 3 chief Aaron Aquino to check on the status of the administrative case against the 13 policemen, denied trying to influence Aquino.

The 13 policemen, instead of being separated from the police force, were placed under floating status and had no specific assignments.

Panelo meanwhile said the next PNP chief should be competent and honest.

“Every organization naman merong ganoong klase; hindi mawawala iyon,” he said.

Albayalde will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on November 8. — DVM, GMA News