13 ‘ninja cops’ named at Senate hearing
Former Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief now Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Tuesday disclosed the names of police officers said to be involved in drug recycling in Pampanga in 2013 and 2014.
Magalong revealed the identities of the cops during the seventh hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee which delved into the issue on the alleged “ninja cops.”
The 13 policemen are:
1. Lt. Col. Rodney Raymundo Louie Baloyo
2. Capt. Joven de Guzman, Jr.
3. Master Sergeant Jules Lacap Maniago
4. Master Sergeant Donald Castro Roque
5. Master Sergeant Ronald Bayas Santos
6. Master Sergeant Rommel Munoz Vital
7. Master Sergeant Alcindor
Mangiduyos Tinio
8. Master Sergeant Dante Mercado Dizon
9. Master Sergeant Eligio Dayos Valeroso
10. Staff Sergeant Dindo Singian Dizon
11. Staff Sergeant Gilbert Angeles de Vera
12. Staff Sergeant Romeo Encarnacion Guerrero
13. Police Corporal Anthony Loleng Lacsamana
According to Magalong, these cops, who were members of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Force of the Pampanga Provincial Police Office, conducted a buy-bust operation on Nov. 29, 2013 in Woodridge Subdivision, Lakeshore View in Mexico, Pampanga and confiscated 38 kilograms of shabu, some cash and arrested one Johnson Lee.
The investigation into the drug operations was reportedly prompted by reports reaching then Philippine National Police Chief Alan Purisima that several intelligence officers of Regional 3 had acquired new sports utility vehicle.
Magalong who was the head of the CIDG was tasked to investigate and based on their investigation and reenactment of the drug bust, they found out that Baloyo’s group were able to seize about 200 kilograms of shabu but only declared a haul of 38 kilograms of shabu.
Also, Baloyo claimed that the drug bust was conducted in the afternoon. Citing witnesses, Magalong said the drug bust was conducted at 10 a.m.
Sen. Ping Lacson brushed aside Baloyo’s claim citing a document showing that the drug bust was done in the morning of November 29.
150 million
Baloyo informed his superior, then Police Colonel Oscar Albayalde about the drug bust.
Based on their investigation, Magalong said Lee was able to escape by jumping off the fence and sought the help of village officials who got suspicious when Lee offered them money to let him go. This prompted the village officials to call the police in Mexico, Pampanga who returned Lee to the venue.
Citing witnesses, Magalong said it was not Lee whom the team of Baloyo presented during a media briefing but a certain Ding Wen Kun. The witnesses also revealed the shabu confiscated from Lee’s residence were placed in oversized luggages and carried by at least four persons.
One of the witnesses said one box of cash was also taken from the house.
After the incident, Magalong said they learned that the sale of illegal drugs became rampant in Pampanga.
“We were able to establish na around 200 kilos ang nakuha. Ang price noon 15,500 to 16,000 per gram. We found out na bumaha ang drugs sa Pamapanga at bumagsak ang presyo ng shabu sa 14,000 per gram o 14 million per kilogram,” he said.
Magalong said they also found out that Lee, believed to be a Korean national paid 150-million for his freedom. When senators Lacson and Richard Gordon asked about the whereabouts of Lee, none of those officials present knew where he was.
Magalong said drug drippings were seen on Lee’s house which means that Baloyo’s team did not handle the evidence properly.
Magalong added that when Brigadier General Raul Petrasanta, then Region 3 police director found out that the PNP-CIDG was doing its own investigation of the buy-bust operation, Petrasanta immediately relieved Albayalde, conducted an investigation and filed a case against Baloyo and his team.
But the criminal and administrative charges filed against Baloyo and his men were weak. He, however did not know what happened to the cases until he retired in 2016, Magalong said.
They later found out that Petrasanta ordered the dismissal of the 13 cops for grave misconduct in Nov. 2014, but the order was not implemented.
Region 3 Police Director chief Amador Corpuz who was present during the hearing admitted signing an order demoting the 13 cops by one rank in 2017 despite a dismissal order.
Asked by senators why the order of dismissal was not implemented, then Region 3 provincial director now Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Aaron Aquino revealed that he received a call from Albayalde sometime in 2016 asking about the status of the case of Baloyo and his team.
“He (Albayalde) told me, sir, baka pwede i-review? Sabi ko, bakit?,” Aquino said, recalling the phone conversation of his underclassman at the PMA.
Aquino said Albayalde responded saying: “Sir, mga tao ko yan.”
But it took Magalong to prod Aquino to reveal the Albayalde request after senators sensed the PDEA chief was conflicted.