Senator Bong Go said President Rodrigo Duterte may ask the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to get to the bottom of the so-called “ninja cops” controversy after Senate has finished its hearing on it.
“At the conclusion of this hearing, the President might ask the DILG to investigate and get to the bottom of this. The truth must come out,” Go said during a Senate hearing on erring cops allegedly involved in the recycling of seized illegal drugs.
The legislator, however, assured that the Philippine National Police (PNP) remains committed to reforming itself amid the controversy.
“In fairness to the PNP, patuloy ang kanilang cleansing, internal cleansing program ng PNP [In fairness to the PNP, it has been conducting an internal cleansing program],” the lawmaker said.
“This issue happened during the previous administration, not during the term of President Duterte.”
“Nangyari po ito sa nakaraang termino, hindi pa sa termino ni Pangulong Duterte. At, ako naman, nakita ko naman, napakaseryoso ni Pangulong Duterte sa kanyang ginagawa [This issue happened during the previous administration, not during the term of President Duterte. And I have witnessed that President Duterte is serious in what he is doing ],” the senator added.
Go however, urged trustworthy police officials not to cover up for the erring ones, or they could risk wasting the trust given to them by the people.
“Rotten ones should be immediately removed.”
“Ako naman pakiusap ko sa PNP, wag nyo pagtakpan. Pag may bulok, ihiwalay nyo na agad para hindi na madamay ang karamihan [I am urging PNP not to cover up (the persons involved). Rotten ones should be immediately removed to prevent spoiling the whole bunch],” Go added.
Senate started its hearing on the “ninja cops” issue after former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief and now Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong identified the police officers and officials involved in the recycling of illegal drugs during an executive session in the Senate in September.