7 Zambales ‘ninja cops’ relieved

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines — Seven police officers in Zambales were relieved from their posts for allegedly recycling illegal drugs seized from anti-narcotics operations.

Aside from recycling drugs, the officers have allegedly been protecting drug traffickers and other criminals, according to Maj. Michael Villanueva, chief of the Olongapo police criminal detection field unit.

The officers have been under investigation since August, Villanueva said.

He said the “ninja cops” were accused by the drug suspects they arrrested in anti-drug operations, Villanueva said.

The officers are detained at the regional police investigation and management division.

Killed

Meanwhile, in Pampanga, a drug suspect was killed in a sting that resulted in the recovery of more than a million worth of shabu on Saturday.

Den Will Mallari reportedly drew his gun after sensing he was dealing with undercover agents in Barangay Dolores, San Fernando City, according to Brig. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, Central Luzon police director.

Mallari died while being treated in a hospital.

Probers recovered a pistol, grenade, plastic sachets containing shabu and drug paraphernalia from the suspect.