11 ‘ninja cops’ plead not guilty to drug raps

MANILA, Philippines — Eleven policemen tagged as “ninja cops” yesterday pleaded not guilty to criminal charges filed against them before a Pampanga court for their alleged involvement in an anomalous drug raid in 2013.

Capt. Joven de Guzman Jr.; M/Sergeants Jules Maniago, Donald Roque, Ronald Santos, Rommel Vital, Alcindor Tinio and Eligio Valeroso; and S/Sergeants Dante Dizon, Dindo Dizon, Gilbert de Vera and Romeo Guerrero were accused of recycling around 200 kilos of shabu.

The police officers supposedly recovered around P10 million worth of drugs during an operation in Mexico, Pampanga but declared only P300,000.

They pleaded not guilty to charges of misappropriation of dangerous drugs under Republic Act 9165, planting of evidence, delay and bungling in the prosecution of drug cases, qualified bribery as well as violation of RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The suspects were arraigned before Judge Esperanza Paglinawan-Rozario of the San Fernando, Pampanga Regional Trial Court Branch 44.

Guerrero and Santos also pleaded not guilty to the charge of false testimony.

The arraignment of Maj. Rodney Baloyo IV has been set on March 13.