‘Ninja cops bequeathed by Aquino govt’

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City: Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde on Saturday said the problem on “ninja cops” was inherited from the administration of Benigno Aquino 3rd.

In that administration ( 2010- 2016), however, he was the police chief of Pampanga province. And in 2014, he was removed for alleged involvement of his men in recycling confiscated illegal drugs.

The recyclers came to be known as “ninja cops.”

But the cases against the Pampanga policemen were eventually dismissed.

“Sabikonga‘yung (As I said), the ninja cops, they never happened during our time, they never happened during the time of [now] Sen. Bato (former PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa) also. Minananamin

‘yan (We inherited them) and now we are cleaning their mess, “Albayalde told reporters after a testimonial parade in his honor at Fort del Pilar in Baguio City.

He said the story on policemen recycling seized illegal drugs was a recycled one.

“I think this is recycled thing, I don’t know why atnagingproblema (it became a problem),” the PNP chief added.

Albayalde thanked Interior Secretary Eduardo Año for defending him on the “ninja cops” issue.

He assured that he would tell the Senate all that he knows about the issue when he appears before the chamber on Tuesday.

The PNP chief said Chief Supt. Manuel

Gaerlan, former deputy regional police director for operations, was ready to testify for him.

The PNP under his stewardship, according to Albayalde, was doing its best to address the problem on the ninja cops.

Teary- eyed and with his nearing retirement, he said he would let the people judge his leadership.

“For myself, I did everything, I gave my best,” Albayalde pointed out.