NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Guillermo Eleazar ordered anew all-out operations against erring officers who continue to be involved in illegal drugs trade, particularly in recycling of illegal drugs seized during anti-narcotics operations.
Eleazar said they are updating all the counter-intelligence data against the erring cops in Metro Manila, particularly against those so called ninja cops as well as those who accept bribe for the protection of illegal drugs operations.
Ninja cops refer to police officers who used to do their illegal transactions onboard a Kawasaki ninja motorcycle. Their modus was to sell illegal drugs which were seized during operations.
"We have been very aggressive in our Intensified Cleanliness Policy against these scalawag policemen that is the reason why we have been arresting policemen who were selling and using drugs. But we want to have a second lool, baka merong pa-simple lamg o magaling magtago. We want to run after them," he said.
"Kasi sayang ang effort ng kapulisan, sayang ang effort ng ating Pangulo na wakasan ang problema sa ilegal na droga. Hindi lang nila ipinapahiya ang buong kapulisan, pinapahiya ng mga ilang tiwaling ito ang ating gobyerno," he added.
In line with this, Eleazar said they are strengthening their coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency particularly for information sharing against the ninja cops, the term used for those involved in recycling illegal drugs recovered from operations.
He said they will also be coordinating with the other law enforcement agency.
Last week, Eleazar went to Aquino’s office to discuss the matter.
He said the PDEA has two lists of cops involved in illegal drugs recycling. One includes some policemen who were transferred to Mindanao while the second includes at least seven policemen.
“’Yung mga nasa listahan noong mga dating ninja cops na ipinakita nya sa akin, ito ‘yung mga pulis na dinatnan namin na ipinagtatapon na namin sa malayo na ‘yung iba may kaso na at ‘yung iba ay nag AWOL (absence without leave) na,” said Eleazar.
“One thing is sure, mas maganda kung kami (ng PDEA) ay may koordinasyon at iisa naman ang aming intensyon, malinis ang aming hanap PNP, PDEA at NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) at lahat yan ng mga ninja cops at tinatawag nating nagre-recycle,“ he added.
He said he has already ordered the scrutiny of those cops on the list particularly those assigned in Metro Manila.
In a Senate hearing last week, Aquino revealed that the recycling of illegal drugs is still rampant, and that some policemen are protecting a shabu queen operating in Metro Manila.
Eleazar said during his time as the Quezon City Police District director, he initiated policies in which a fault of a policeman is a fault of all.
He said under the said policy, an entire drug enforcement unit would be relieved even if only one member of the unit was arrested or known to be involved in illegal drugs trade.
More than 500 policemen have been relieved of their posts over such policy, some of them were slapped with criminal and administrative charges. Some, on the other hand, were already dismissed from the service.
"As a result of this policy, our police personnel in all levels now maintain a keen eye on their companions for fear of getting penalized because of possible wrongdoings of the man next to him," said Eleazar.
"This strategy is to make sure that new, fresh and clean police officers will wage the honest battle against illegal drugs," he added.
Eleazar, however, sought the cooperation of the public noting that the said that the best intelligence reports come from barangay officials and residents of community since they are aware of who among the policemen are involved in wrongdoings.
"It is in the barangay for instance where a certain policeman is being monitored to have a lifestyle more than what the salary could afford," he said.
He cited an arrested Manila policeman who was found to be owning a big house and has millions of money in his personal vault.
"We encourage the public to help us because if they tolerate these, it is them who may end up as victims of drug-related crimes," said Eleazar.
"All information will be treated as confidential. Just tell us and we will take care of the rest," he added. (SunStar Philippines)