Resolve review of 'ninja cops' case before retirement, Lacson advises Albayalde

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Friday said that Police Gen. Oscar Albayalde must resolve the re-investigation into the "ninja cops" involved in a 2013 raid in Pampanga before the police chief steps down.

Noting that Albayalde has 34 days left in police service, Lacson told DZMM in Filipino that that is "the first thing he has to show to erase doubt that he has involvement in the case of [Police Major Rodney Baloyo IV], in covering it up.”

“In the remaining 30-plus days, he should show the prompt resolution of the rei-nvestigation being conducted,” Lacson, who is a former police chief himself, added.

Baloyo is a former chief of the Pampanga intelligence branch that led the raid in November 2013, while Albayalde headed the Pampanga provincial police office at the time.

In the said operation, Baloyo and 12 other policemen were accused of making off with shabu they seized. It was said that the cops yielded only 38 kilos of shabu, even though over 200 kilos, worth P700 million, was confiscated.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Aaron Aquino disclosed in the Senate inquiry Thursday that Albayalde called him in 2016 and requested him “not to implement” the dismissal order against Baloyo and others that worked in the irregular raid.

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Aquino was then chief of Police Regional Office-3.

Albayalde insisted that he did not try to influence Aquino. “Whether I called or not, nothing changed in his decision. It’s clear here that General Aquino was not influenced.”

Lacson noted that not much evidence is needed in the case because documents are available. It would not take much time to look into whether Baloyo is lying, he added.

“The best proof that he can show that he did not protect Baloyo is finish this before he retires. Fast track the review of the case and reinvestigation, and mete out punishment like what was in the original decision, that is dismissal and the filing of a criminal case,” he added.

Baloyo in detention

Baloyo is currently being held at the New Bilibid Prison, after the Senate cited him in contempt for lying on Thursday.

During the hearing, the senators repeatedly questioned Baloyo about the specifics of the anti-narcotics operation conducted on Nov. 29, 2013 in Mexico, Pampanga.

The investigation by the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said contradicted Baloyo’s statements. — Kristine Joy Patag