His revelation came on the same day PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde appeared before another Senate Blue Ribbon Committee probe.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech during the plenary session of the 16th Annual Meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club at the Polyana 1389 Hotel in Sochi, Russia on October 3, 2019. RICHARD MADELO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte bared two high-ranking Philippine National Police (PNP) officers “are still playing” in the illegal drugs trade.

The Chief Executive made the disclosure at the Valdai Discussion Club Forum in Sochi, Russia last Thursday night.

”Right now, even as I fly here and go back, there are about again two generals who are still playing with drugs,” Mr. Duterte said as he addressed the plenary comprised of other world leaders, Russian officials, policymakers, international experts, academicians and journalists.

The President, however, did not reveal the identities of the officials nor did he categorically say if they are already retired or are still in active duty or if they are from the military or police ranks.

His revelation came on the same day PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde appeared before another Senate Blue Ribbon Committee probe over his alleged involvement in the pilferage of 100 kilos of crystal meth, also known as shabu, in 2013 when he was still provincial director of Pampanga.

He likewise lamented how, in his unrelenting fight against illegal drug and corruption, he is faced with the reality that his biggest enemies are people from his own government.

“I said I’m not only fighting corruption from inside the government, I was fighting corruption and the trafficking of drugs even in my government. And that is why I had to do something very fast,” he stated.

“Little did I know that I will not only fight — be fighting the criminals, the drug lords, the kidnappers — I was fighting men in my own government and the corruption that drugs bring,” he added.

That is why, according to Mr. Duterte, drastic measures had to be taken to preserve the country.

“We only seek to protect our republic (from) those who wish to tear it apart. We only seek to curb criminality that corrodes the very structure of government. We only seek to build a credible defense against those who might be tempted to violate our territorial integrity,” he expressed.

The PNP said its officials are ready to face any inquiry over the President’s revelation.

PNP spokesman P/Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said aside from the Senate investigation, “We have no knowledge or have received any report that high-ranking police officials are involved in the illegal drug trade,” he added.

Banac reiterated that the 185,000-strong PNP force remains loyal, professional and disciplined.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief P/Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said President Duterte has access to information coming from all sources.

“It is best we know who they are and we will find them,” Eleazar said during an interview.

“You know the President has access to information coming from all sources but for now, we don’t know who he is referring to, but I think the intelligence group or the director for intelligence is monitoring everything and trying to determine who the generals are,” he added.

Eleazar, however, stressed the PNP organization is different from what they saw some three years ago “when we talk about police involved in illegal drugs and when we talk about the sincerity or the commitment of the organization to clean it,” he said.

Escape, no chance Alleged “ninja cop” head Rodney Baloyo gets a taste of detention inside the New Bilibid Prison. BJMP PHOTO

Bureau of Corrections director Gerald Bantag relieved up to 300 prison guards assigned at the New Bilibid Prison’s maximum security compound from their posts.

The relief of hundreds of prison guards came in compliance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive, according to a television interview. More than 500 policemen will be taking the place of the relieved prison guards.

Bantag was appointed in place of Nicanor Faeldon who was terminated over the undue release of hundreds of heinous crimes convicts through the erroneous interpretation of the Good Conduct Time Allowance Law.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, meanwhile, said, according to one of his friends, a certain “Rommel” has targeted him for assassination.

Magalong said he has been receiving information about the movement of hitmen. He added, at another time, he received a phone call where the caller simply uttered profanities.

The mayor, who was a former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief and the whistleblower in the “ninja cop” investigation, said he has enhanced the security measures at home. He said his family is vulnerable, and precautionary actions should be done.

Magalong reiterated his warning to those threatening him to make sure that he will not survive in their foul effort or he will hunt them down. “You know my background,” he said.

After the Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee grilled the head of the police force, Sen. Panfilo Lacson advised Albayalde to use his remaining days in service to make amends by expediting the reinvestigation of the case involving 13 former subordinates linked to the illegal drug operations.

With Francis T. Wakefield, Aldwin Quitasol, Hananeel Bordey and Elmer N. Manuel