Albayalde, “ninja” cops, should be charged, arrested – Pamalakaya
Manila, Philippines – Amid the lengthy deliberations at the senate on the issue of “ninja” cops or police officers “recycling” confiscated illegal drugs, the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) said that Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde and the thirteen named should have already been charged and arrested.
“Kung ordinaryong mamamayan, o walang kapangyarihan at impluwensya, ang pinagbintangan ng ganyang kaso, siguradong nakakulong na siya ngayon. Ang pagkakaiba lang ay PNP Chief at matataas na opisyal ng pulisya ang involved sa pag-recycle ng droga. Pero dahil mataas na opisyal ng pulisya ang nagdadamay sa kanya, under oath sa senado, dapat kinasuhan na siya,” PAMALAKA National Chairperson and former Anakpawis Party-list representative Fernando “Ka Pando” Hicap said in a press statement.
He said that the testimonies of retired Police Major General Benjamin Magalong and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director-General Aaron Aquino are not lowly and immaterial tale-telling but sworn statements of top-level police officials. Magalong was the former Deputy Chief of Operations of the PNP from 2015 to 2016, and before that the Chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) from 2013 to 2015. Moreover, Aquino is of rank Police Chief Superintendent and actually an Undersecretary under the Office of the President.
“Ibig bang sabihin na ang mga statements ng mga ganitong katataas na opisyal ay hindi pa pumapasang may probable cause, o dahil lang makapangyarihan lang si Albayalde kaya hindi pa inaaresto. Habang sa mga gawa-gawang kaso nila laban sa mga aktibista, kung kani-kaninong poncio pilato na affidavit ang gamit nila ay kinukulong agad. Seryoso ang mga akusasyong pag-recycle ng 160 kg ng shabu at pag-impluwensya sa imbestigasyon sa mga na-involve,” he said.
He said that the exposed “ninja” cops who were subordinates of then-Pampanga police director Albayalde should have already been charged as the confiscated drugs were already lost. Police internal investigations found out that they were guilty of mishandling evidence and were ordered dismissed and Albayalde was relieved from his post for “command responsibility.” The dismissal was not effected as Albayalde, in 2016, then-PNP National Capital Regional Director intervened, calling the then-PNP Central Luzon Director Aaron Aquino not to implement the dismissal order. Due to the snowballing expose, President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano to investigate the issue, and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that it will review the dismissal case against the corrupt police officers.
“Dalawang departamento na ang nag-iimbestiga pero nasa puder pa rin si Albayalde, walang susulpot na witness laban sa kanya kung mayroon pa rin siyang kapangyarihan o impluwensya,” Hicap said.
The fisherfolk leader urged the senate to immediately recommend the arrest of Albayalde.
“Huwag na sanang patagalin pa ng senado ang kongklusyon nila at i-rekomenda na ang pag-aresto kay Albayalde, dahil habang hindi siya napapanagot, nalalantad lang ang administrasyong Duterte na may double standard, na kapag mahihirap ang pinagbibintangang sangkot sa droga ay tinotokhang agad, pero kapag may kapit sa pangulo ay binibigyan ng ‘due process,’” he ended. ###
