Duterte tells “ninja cops” he can be more evil than them

October 18, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte has warned the so-called "ninja cops" that he could be more evil than them if he wanted to.

Ninja cops are members of the Philippine National Police who are involved in the illegal drug trade, including recycling of confiscated narcotics.

"Don't give me that ninja cops...the gangster...you know, you, ninja cops, holduppers, drug pushers. You thought that you're the only one who are tough because you think you have a monopoly of evil in this country," Duterte said in a speech Thursday night before local businessmen in a hotel in Manila.

"Well, I think you are - that's a very stupid paradigm because I can be evil like you and more than if I want to be," he added.

Duterte's remarks came after he expressed disappointment during a recent command conference in Malacanang with the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines regarding some policemen allegedly involved in the reselling of confiscated illegal drugs.

Former PNP chief Oscar Albayalde recently quit as the head of the police force ahead of his retirement on November 8 after allegation that he was a protector of ninja cops in 2013 when he was Pampanga provincial chief. Albayalde denied the allegation. Celerina Monte/DMS