Senator Bong Go said President Rodrigo Duterte wants the names of the “ninja cops” or police officers allegedly involved in the sale of confiscated illegal drugs be released to the public.
“I think he will personally announce to the public kung sino ‘yung mga sangkot na ito,” Go said in an interview.
“Sabi niya, karapatan po ng mga Filipino malaman kung sino itong mga ninja cops,” the legislator added.
The issue of “ninja cops” surfaced as the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee continued with its inquiry on the alleged corruption in the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who is also the former head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), gave the Senate a list of the so-called “ninja cops” on September 19, but because the list was given in an executive session, the names have yet to be publicly revealed.
“President Duterte asked that the list be cross-validated.”
The lawmaker told reporters that Duterte asked that the list be cross-validated.
“Kino-consolidate po muna namin ‘yung mga listahan, ‘yung mga reports po mula sa iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno–PDEA, sa intelligence community–pinapa-cross validation po ni Pangulo ang lahat ng mga ‘yan,” the senator said.
“The President has set the rewards for the arrest of the erring cops.”
Go also mentioned that the President has also set rewards for the arrest of the erring police officers.
“Nabanggit rin po niya na nandiyan na rin po ‘yung reward na kaniyang sinabi noon,” he said.
Go himself was at the executive session but he said he could not reveal the names.
“It was mentioned in confidence po, so I cannot (divulge) it here,” he said.
But Go also said he is in favor of eventually letting the public know.
“Dapat malaman ng publiko. Tuloy-tuloy po ang ating kampanya laban sa korapsyon, laban sa kriminalidad, lalong-lalo na po ito, sa mga law enforcement agencies,” he pointed out.
At the Senate session, 17 senators who were present adopted the motion with a vote of 17-0 to authorize the Blue Ribbon Committee to publicly divulge the minutes of the executive session last September 19.
Go added in the interview that the President is disappointed whenever he hears of corruption involving police officials.
“Nanghihina si Pangulo ‘pag naririnig niyang sangkot po ang pulis,” he said.
But Go said he remains supportive of the PNP.
“Ako naman, malaki ang tiwala ko sa ating mga kapulisan. Majority ay matitino, at maayos naman po sila,” he stressed. “Meron lang konting bad diyan. Dapat mawala at hindi po mahawa ang iba.”