INTERIOR Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. has vowed to weed out erring police personnel involved in the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country.
In a television interview on Thursday, December 15, 2022, Abalos said “ninja cops” or those policemen involved in the recycling of illegal drugs being recovered during operations by selling it back on the streets is a continuing problem of the government.
"Matagal na tong mga taong ito na nasa loob, maski kanino pang panahon ito. Ang sa akin lang, mangangako ako sa inyo...lilinisin ko ito. Pangako ko po ito," said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary who oversees the Philippine National Police (PNP).
(These people have been in the business for a long time, no matter whose time it is. But I promise you...I'll clean it up. This is my promise.)
"Yun lang hinihiling ko sa inyo tulungan niyo ang PNP dito. Tulungan niyo kami rito dahil iba ang hakbangin ditto. Sa mga susunod na araw may gagawin po kami rito. Isa lang patunay namin dito yung ginawa namin sa PDEA ng Philippine National Police," he added.
(That's all I ask from you -- to help the PNP here. Please help us here because the initiative here is different. In the next few days, we will do something. The only proof we have here is what we did to the PDEA.)
Abalos said there will be no sacred cows under his watch and charges will be filed against scalawag policemen based on evidence.
The DILG chief made the statement following the claim of former PNP chief now Senator Ronald dela Rosa that the operation of ninja cops has returned to life after former President Rodrigo Duterte, who declared a crackdown on illegal drugs under his administration, stepped down from post.
Dela Rosa, one of the brains behind the drug war under the Duterte administration that resulted in the killing of over 6,000 alleged drug suspects, advised the DILG and PNP to be vigilant against these erring personnel.
Dela Rosa also said the illegal drug trade in the country is bouncing back, saying the law enforcement is at a disadvantage.
“Ang PNP, ang law enforcement ngayon ay nagiging biktima lang. Dahil nga pag-alis ni Duterte, nawalan ng takot itong mga drug personality, bumabalik na naman sila. Kaya sabi ko sa kanila, ‘Double time kayo. Dapat ikumbinsi ninyo, ‘yung nawawalan na ng takot na mga drug personality na nagsibalikan na naman, ikumbinsi ninyo with your effort na talagang upakan ninyo ng husto,” he said.
(The PNP, the law enforcement today is just becoming a victim. Because after Duterte left, these drug personalities lost their fear, they are coming back again. So I said to them, 'You double time. You must convince the drug personalities who have lost their fear and come back again, convince them with your effort that you will really work hard.)
“’Yung approach natin na concentrate on the big fish, tama po iyon. Napakaganda nun, concentrate on the big fish. Pero huwag rin nating kalimutan ang small fish,” he added.
(Our approach to concentrate on the big fish is correct. That's very good, concentrate on the big fish. But let's not forget the small fish either.)
He said this information came directly from local government officials who came up to him to raise such concern.
Meanwhile, Abalos expressed opposition to the proposal of Dela Rosa to decriminalize drug use. This gained support from Senator Robin Padilla in a bid to decongest the country’s jail facilities.
"With due respect, ang gyera na nakikita ko ngayon, hindi makakatulong sa laban namin at hindi makakatulong sa mga bata, dahil nagsisimula yan nang maliliit. Pangalawa, magkakaroon ng technicality yan, ikakalat lang nila nang maliliit sa iba-iba," he said.
(With due respect, the war that I see now will not help our fight and will not help the children, because it starts small. Second, there will be a technicality, as they will only spread it in small amounts.)
"Sana 'wag na lang. Ako kung itim, itim. Kung puti, puti, kung bawal, bawal at para sa akin bawal lahat 'to. Hulihin na lang natin," he added.
(I hope not. If I'm black, I'm black. If it's white, it's white. If it's forbidden, it's forbidden, and for me it's all forbidden. Let's just catch up.)
Dela Rosa earlier said he is having second thoughts on his proposal.
The PNP was criticized for allegedly being fainthearted and less aggressive against criminals especially those involved in illegal drugs trade.
Azurin maintained that the PNP values the preservation of life and he also expressed belief that they do not have to scare the criminals. (SunStar Philippines)