I called him. I asked him about what happened in 2013, 2014… Who will be happy with that (rumor)

It would be President Rodrigo Duterte who will have the final say on who the “ninja cops” are.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde was agitated by speculations linking him to erring cops that should compel the release of the list of “ninja cops” and their backers, Senator Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa, who is Albayalde’s former superior, said yesterday.

“Ninja cops” are those involved in the recycling of seized drugs and whom former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (cidg) director and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong identified during a Senate executive session.

“I called him. I asked him about what happened in 2013, 2014… Who will be happy with that (rumor)? He was mad because he said that the issue was rehashed as it happened long ago,” De la Rosa said in an ambush interview.

On Tuesday afternoon, the senator moved before the plenary the disclosure of information regarding the identity and the exploits of the “ninja cops.”

Nonetheless, he vouched for Albayalde while insisting that the list of policemen involved in narcotics should be made public similar to the release of the narco-politicians list.

Albayalde was cleared of any drug links as De la Rosa said his accountability in the past incident was merely due to “command responsibility.”

For the senator, the names should be disclosed to end all speculations, but he emphasized that the PNP cannot dictate on the actions of Mr. Duterte, adding that the government is still following due process.

“Those ‘ninja cops,’ they may disclose it or not, their colleagues know already who those (ninja cops) are,” he said in a separate ambush interview. “Well, we are still undergoing due process. Case buildup is being done against them and if they are arrested, they should face (the charges).”

Albayalde was relieved from his post in 2014 as Pampanga police chief due to command responsibility over an anomalous anti-drug operation.

“I am betting my neck on that person. I will put my integrity on the line for him. I placed him as regional director of the National Capital Region Police Office because I have a high regard for him,” De la Rosa said.

“There have been speculations circulating around regarding the alleged involvement of the Chief PNP in the so-called “Agaw Bato” scheme, and in the spirit of fairness to General Albayalde, I move the Blue Ribbon Committee to disclose the contents of the executive session that transpired in the Senate committee during the hearing on GCTA anomalies,” he manifested last Tuesday.

Recently, the PNP chief said he was compelled to respond on these insinuations.

“I am the only four-star, right? So how can I not react?” he said. “It’s really very hard when you are doing everything already and yet you are being accused of something that you did not do.”

He said this issue during his time as provincial director was also a “recycled” issue.

“These are all recycled. If drugs can be recycled, maybe personal perceptions can be recycled too,” Albayalde said.

Senator Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa is ready to stick his neck out for Philippine National Police Chief General Oscar Albayalde.

Subsequently, the Senate has authorized the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to disclose the names of erring cops who are allegedly involved in the so-called “Agaw Bato scheme.”

During the last Blue Ribbon investigation, Magalong said he conducted a drug raid in a police unit in Pampanga during his stint as CIDG chief.

However, they did not recover the actual drugs and only seized drug money.

Speculations loomed that Albayalde, who was relieved as Pampanga provincial director in 2014 after his subordinates were linked in drug activities, was hinted as involved after Sen. Richard Gordon rubbed four fingers on his face when he was asked about the highest-ranking official tagged during the executive session.

Members of the Senate also threw out a PNP appeal which asserted the “rights against undue persecution” of the alleged “ninja cops” as President Duterte wanted to publicize the names of the said erring uniformed personnel.

On Tuesday night, the Senate unanimously approved to disclose the details of the executive session with Magalong who bared that there are active high-ranking cops who were involved in the illegal drug trade.

In a press statement, PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said it is up to the Senate’s discretion to disclose the contents of the minutes, but they requested to “exercise due diligence in protecting the rights” of the alleged “ninja cops” “against undue persecution.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said in an ambush interview that the President through Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, wanted to know the details of the minutes of the executive session as it involved PNP officials.

“What I know is, the President was interested to know what transpired in the executive session. And because there is what we call separation of powers, we cannot just be compelled by the President to disclose it. That’s why we need to give authority, so that we can give it to him if he wanted a copy of it,” Sotto said.

The Senate chief wanted to clarify from the PNP what they want to point out when they said due diligence, as the only power of the Senate is to receive information to craft solutions through laws.

“What do they mean by due diligence? We are merely recipients of information. All of the information, we only receive it. Then if we receive this, we are using this in aid of legislation that will help us to craft laws to prevent further recurrence of unfavorable incidents and then incorporate it in the laws,” he pointed out.

Sen. Richard Gordon, who chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon and Justice and Human Rights committees, said the legislative body will assert its authority to disclose the names of the erring cops, but for now, they will defer to the President as he was the appointing authority of these uniformed personnel.

“With consultation of Senate President (Vicente) Sotto (III) and other senators, I will send this first to the President. He is a co-equal branch and he appointed those people,” Gordon said in an interview.

“So, he will make the announcement if he cares to, but whether or not he will make the announcement, after an interregnum, we will continue with the investigation based on the revelation because the Senate has already authorized the committee to disclose it,” he explained.

He said the President will either reveal the names of at least 12 alleged “ninja cops” as the senators are still signing the document before they send it to Duterte.

Gordon said he will not preempt the recommendation of charges or dismissal of these uniformed personnel, but he is sure that Duterte will act on the information they have received.

“The police are under the direct authority of the President. So, we should give him the time to give the necessary (actions) like the one with (former Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor) Faeldon,” he said.

But for Go, he wanted these “ninja cops,” whom he called demons or “yawa” in the Cebuano language, killed.

“All were given due process. That is why the President is validating (the information). But it is not acceptable for the President, even for me, these ninja cops. They recycle the drugs, but they should be the one enforcing the law. That’s what we call ‘yawa,’” Go said.

“They should be killed. They are insolent. Those who are committing that are ‘yawa,’” he added.

Go further disclosed that the President will meet with police officials and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Meanwhile, former PNP chiefs and now Senators Lacson and De la Rosa also pushed for the full disclosure of the names and the anomalies of the alleged “ninja cops.”

“We already adopted that yesterday, so they can do nothing about it. But why would they not welcome it when the Senate in effect would be helping them identify the rogues in their ranks?”

“From what I know as I told you earlier, the initial penalty imposed against those police officers was dismissal from the service, but eventually it was commuted to suspension and demotion. So that particular, one of the officers was just demoted one rank. So, what is worrisome here, he’s still in the service,” he added.Police.