ILOILO City – There are “no ninja cops” or policemen involved in recycling seized illegal drugs in Western Visayas, according to Police Brigadier General Leo Francisco, director of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
He, however, admitted there were reports of police personnel involved in drug protection.
“Usually natanggap natin na information ay may kaibigan at kamag-anak na involved sa drugs at nag-protect ng durogista. Pero we are conducting a thorough investigation kasi baka may naninira lang,” Francisco told Panay News.
He added he had intensified his counter intelligence network to monitor these police officers.
“Since I was assigned here, pinalakas ko na agad ang counter intelligence aspect namin at natitiyak ko na walang ganyang activity (ninja cops) dito,” he said.
From March 27 to April 2, a total of P16.3 million worth of shabu was seized and 81 drug suspects were arrested from 61 operations.
The biggest seizure was in Zone 6, Barangay Buhang, Jaro, Iloilo City on March 27.
Police confiscated P8.1 million worth of shabu from Estrelita “Madam Ester” Bueno, 68, widow and a resident of Novaliches, Quezon City, and Noe Llagas Jr., 27, a resident of Barangay Ungka, Jaro.
Ninja cops or narco cops is a term popularized during the Philippine drug war which started under President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016.
It refers to police personnel alleged to be reselling portions of illegal drugs seized in antidrug operations./PN
