PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brigadier General Bernard Banac said on Wednesday, February 26, that "troll cops" who wrongly linked their colleagues to the illegal drugs trade will also be investigated.
“Ang ating imbestigasyon at validation na sinasagawa ngayon sa 356 na PNP personnel na umano ay may kaugnayan sa illegal na droga ay magpapatuloy kahit matapos ang 1-month period na ito ay magpapatuloy ang imbestigasyon na gagawin,” he said in a press conference.
“Dahil atin namang aalamin na susunod kung sino ang mga nagpapakalat ng fake news laban sa ating mga opisyal at operatiba na maari lamang na gustong gumanti dahil ang kanilang sindikato ay nasagasaan at nalansag,” he added.
There are 357 names of the narco list of President Rodrigo Duterte, but 356 are undergoing adjudication since one had died.
Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, earlier said the PNP should conduct an investigation against ninja cops who may have been behind the inclusion of a “clean” police officer in the drugs watchlist.
He was referring to Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido, whose role in the neutralization of two suspected narco-politicians earned commendation from President Rodrigo Duterte.
Ninja cops refer to policemen involved in the recycling or selling of illegal drugs seized during police operations.
Banac said professional jealousy could motivate some policemen in falsely accusing their colleagues.
"It is possible that some are indeed fabricating and spreading fake news over personal grudge or personal motives," Banac said.
This is the reason, according to Banac, why the PNP is carefully adjudicating the allegations thrown against the 356 policemen.
Once the adjudication process is done, Banac said they will focus on who among them were cleared.
The adjudication process is set to be completed on March 5. The PNP will submit the result of the adjudication on the 356 cops to President Rodrigo Duterte by then.
For all those cleared, Banac said they will look into the circumstances that led to their inclusion in the list. Those who implicated them may be held liable.
"Those who fed the information on policemen who were cleared will be subjected also to investigation as to where they got the information," said Banac. (SunStar Philippines)