MANILA – The Senate has given its Blue Ribbon Committee the go signal to release the identities of erring police officials allegedly involved in recycling of illegal drugs.
Senator Ronald dela Rosa made the motion in lieu of absent Blue Ribbon Committee chair Richard Gordon for the release of identities of the “ninja cops,” as revealed by former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Benjamin Magalong in an executive session.
“There has been speculation circulating around regarding the alleged involvement of the Chief PNP General Oscar Albayalde in the so-called ‘agaw-bato’ scheme,” Dela Rosa said.
“In fairness to General Albayalde…I would like to move for this body to allow or to authorize the Blue Ribbon committee to disclose the contents of the executive session that transpired during the last Senate committee hearing regarding GCTA anomaly,” he added.
Dela Rosa also said divulging the contents of the executive session would be fair to those being alluded to. The motion was unanimously approved by the 17 senators present on Tuesday night.
“I would like to have the records or the contents of that executive session be made available for those who are interested so that the truth shall prevail, not speculation,” Dela Rosa said.
Senate President Vicente Sotto supported Dela Rosa’s motion since there was much speculation coming out regarding the contents or what transpired during the executive session and releasing the list will allowed those implicated to explain their side.
“He (Dela Rosa) is seeking the permission of the body to give the Blue Ribbon committee an authority to divulge what transpired in that executive session to once and for all remove cloud of doubt on anyone that has been named,” Sotto said.
The names and information were gathered during the Blue Ribbon and Justice Committees executive session last week with Magalong submitting the names of the ninja cops to the Senate.
Magalong, former chief of the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, accused several Pampanga policemen of recycling drugs back in 2007, when Albayalde was still the province’s chief.
The PNP, meanwhile, has appealed to the Senate on Wednesday to protect the rights of so-called “ninja cops” or those policemen allegedly involved in the “agaw-bato” scheme.
“Let the ax fall where it may,” PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said in a statement. “We bow to the discretion of the Senate if it so desires to make public the names of PNP members whom it tags as “ninja cops.”
“We request, however, that the Senate exercise due diligence in protecting the rights of these persons against undue persecution,” Banac added.
“The PNP only has the best interest of justice, fairness and good governance in uncovering the truth behind the alleged involvement of cops in recycling drug evidence,” he said./PN
