Amid 'ninja cops' issue, solon calls for passage of whistleblower protection law

A lawmaker on Tuesday stressed the need for a law protecting whistleblowers to encourage witnesses to come out and expose corrupt activities involving government officials or agencies.

Agusan del Norte Representative Lawrence Fortun made such remark after drug recycling activities involving policemen have been exposed.

In a statement, Fortun lauded former police general and now Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong for exposing the "long-festering 'ninja cops' schemes" which allowed the Philippine National Police to make reforms among its ranks.

He, however, lamented the absence of law protecting whistleblowers in the country.

"If we had a whistleblower protection law today, there would be more willing witnesses spilling the beans about corruption and abuse not only in the PNP, but also other agencies of government,” Fortun said.

Fortun said the House has been trying to pass a whistleblower protection law since the 15th Congress.

In the 18th Congress, at least seven whistleblower protection bills were filed, one of which is Fortun's own House Bill 2239. The bill grants absolute confidentiality and guards whistleblowers against retaliation and disciplinary action. The measure is now pending before the House Committee on Justice.

"To expose corruption within government, we need to assure whistleblowers that the faithful public servants will come to their aid and give them ample protection," Fortun said.

“Corruption is quite difficult to prove due to lack of sufficient evidence, but with a whistleblowers protection law, reliable and credible witnesses will have the resolve to come out and expose corruption, irregularities and anomalies in government.”

Former Philippine National Police chief Director General Albayalde himself was tagged in the "ninja cops" controversy, particularly due to his supposed role in the allegedly anomalous drug operation by the Pampanga police in November 2013, when he was still their chief.

His subordinates allegedly let a suspected drug lord flee in exchange for P50 million while most of the 200 kilos of shabu confiscated during the operation were not declared and presumed to have been sold back to the drug market.

Albayalde has denied allegations that he was involved in any way with the operation and that he intervened in the implementation of a dismissal order on the 13 police officers involved.

The so-called "ninja cops" have all since been demoted by a rank instead of the initial recommendation that they all be dismissed from service.

Albayalde on Monday stepped down as the country's top police officer, less than a month before his retirement on November 8. —KBK, GMA News