Reward tipsters, not killers, governor suggests

Rather than giving away a P5-million bounty to anyone who can kill or arrest “ninja cops,” the money should be given to informants who can help pinpoint one, said Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III.

Davide was responding to President Rodrigo Duterte’s announcement that he will give a generous bounty to anyone who can bring down a police officer involved in illegal activities.

The Cebu governor made the statement a day before President Duterte’s visit to Cebu for the second time this month.

Davide said that the reward money could tempt scalawags to kill those like them, just for the bounty.

“Kay posible nga matintal ang tawo, especially scalawags nga mag-unay na sa ilang kapwa scalawag (That might prove tempting, especially to scalawags),” Davide said.

Davide said he would prefer that the money be given to confidential informants who can help police identify officers who are allegedly involved in illegal activities.

Earlier this month, President Duterte offered a P5-million bounty, saying he wanted the police force freed of rogue officers. This was not the first time the President offered such a reward. Last year, President Duterte said he would offer P3 million for every “ninja cop” brought to him.

PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde has clarified the reward will go to a person who provides information that leads to the neutralization of police officers who protect drug personalities.

The Commission on Human Rights also warned the President that removing scalawag officers should be done by the law. Spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said that removing “ninja cops” through murder will only “perpetuate the cycle of violence” and erode the rule of law.