PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brigadier General Bernard Banac said on Tuesday, October 8, that they have already accounted for all the 12 former Pampanga policemen who took part in the controversial anti-illegal drugs operation in 2013.
The 13th is Major Rodney Raymundo Baloyo IV, who is detained at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) after he was cited in contempt for “repeatedly telling lies” during a Senate hearing on ninja cops on October 3.
"Ang lahat ng nataguriang ninja cops ay napapailalim ngayon sa ating personnel and holding accounting unit dito sa national headquadters ng Crame," he said.
"Kaya sila nandito ngayon, para maging available sila anytime magkaroon ng pagdinig sa Senado at maging sa imbestigasyon na isinasagawa ngayon ng DILG at review na isinasagawa ng Department of Justice," he added.
Baloyo led the November 29, 2013 anti-illegal drugs operation in Woodbridge Subdivision, Lakeshore View in Pampanga which was found to be irregular following an investigation conducted by then Criminal Investigation and Detection (CIDG) director Benjamin Magalong on orders of then PNP chief Alan Purisima.
The other policemen who conducted the operation were Senior Inspector Joven de Guzman Jr. Senior Police Officers 1 Jules Maniago, Donald Roque, Ronald Santos, Rommel Vital, Alcindor Tinio and Eligio Valeroso; Police Officers 3 Dindo Dizon, Gilbert De Vera, Romeo Guerrero Jr. and Dante Dizon; and Police Officer 2 Anthony Lacsamana.
During the senate hearing, Magalong said they found several irregularities in the operation as well as in the report about the operation submitted by the group led by Baloyo particularly the under declaration of the seized illegal drugs and the switching of suspect who was arrested during the operation.
He said based on the accounts of several witnesses who assisted them in the re-enactment of the said operation, at least 200 kilograms of illegal drugs were confiscated and that the arrested person was Johnson Lee and not Ding Wenkun who was presented to the media.
Magalong said they learned that Lee paid P50 million for his release.
Instead of being dismissed from the service, the 13 cops were merely demoted.
On Monday, the DOJ formed a three-man prosecution panel to conduct re-investigation of the case of the 13 cops.
The 13 policemen were charged for violation of Sections 27 (misappropriation), 21 (planting of evidence) and 32 (custody and disposition of evidence) of Republic Act No. 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2001. These charges were all dismissed.
In a Department Order No. 528, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra named Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Alexander Suarez, Assistant State Prosecutor Josie Christina Dugay and Assistant State Prosecutor Gino Paulo Santiago as members of the panel.
“The Special Panel of Prosecutors is hereby authorized to investigate and receive additional evidence in NPS (National Prosecution Service) Docket No. XVI-INV-14E-00152 entitled “Criminal and Investigation Detention Group (CIDG) represented by PS Supt (Police Senior Superintendent) Albert Ignatius Ferro vs. P Supt. Rodney Louie Juico Baloyo IV, et al,” the order said.
The panel has a month to complete its probe and file the necessary criminal information against the alleged ninja cops if warranted by the evidence.
PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde also ordered the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) to take the lead in reviewing the administrative cases against Baloyo’s group.
“No stone will be left unturned and there will be no sacred cows in this investigation. I am serving notice to all PNP units and personnel to fully cooperate with the Department of Justice for the reopening or review of the case, as well as the inquiry by the different PNP investigating bodies by making available all necessary records that will be required, including testimonies of personnel,” he said.
Albayalde, who was the Pampanga provincial director when the operation took place was earlier accused of intervening in the implementation of the dismissal order against the 13 cops. (SunStar Philippines)