Duterte to name ninja cops in ”due time”: Albayalde

September 26, 2019

Police General Oscar Albayalde on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte will decide on announcing the names of "ninja cops" involved in illegal drug trade in "due time".

In an interview with reporters, the head of the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed that he briefed Duterte last Wednesday night on the update on the government's war on illegal drugs.

During their meeting, alleged controversies surrounding the organization were also discussed.

"I just briefed him on our update on war on illegal drugs. The usual reporting, as you all know, there are controversies so I briefed the president on the status on war on drugs of PNP," he said.

"We leave that up to the president. Let's give him space so I think we leave that up to the wisdom of the president," he said.

"He said he will decide in due time," Albayalde added.

Albayalde said Duterte told him he will decide on what to do the soonest possible time.

"In due time, it will be crystal clear. I'm sure. We are very confident on PNP that we will weather this and this will be cover by documents (and) not by insinuation," he said.

He disclosed they provided Duterte the names of the ninja cops and their status.

The PNP chief clarified the list they provided to Duterte is a watchlist that still needs validation.

"If you are on the watchlist the most we can do is give you a due process... there are ways to adjudicate that people especially so uniform personnel in our ranks... if nothing will be seen from them, they will be delisted," he said.

"They will not be forever in the list... there is a continuing process of adjudication but not only on uniform personnel," he added.

Albayalde said their list and the list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) may be the same.

"I have not seen the list of PDEA. I think it's essentially almost the same... because some on their list, they coordinate with us and we coordinate with them also," he said.

When asked if his retirement was discussed, Albayalde said he told Duterte  about it but no offers where given.

"In all honesty, none," he answered.

The PNP chief said the directive of Duterte on illegal drugs remain.

"Directive is go on illegal drugs relentlessly and also told him how dead serious we are in our cleansing operations," he said.

Albayalde said he told Duterte about their Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG).

His meeting with Duterte came after some officials revealed that some cops, including active ones, are involved in illegal drug activities, particularly in "drug recycling". Ella Dionisio/DMS