OIC to review ninja cops' case

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte earlier this week reprimanded Philippine National Police commanders over allegations that some policemen recycled seized narcotics, the PNP officer-in-charge said Thursday.

The Philippine Star, quoting an insider, earlier reported that Duterte expressed "utmost disappointment" in a closed-door command conference on Tuesday and lamented that he has given the PNP "everything" yet some of its members were still involved in drugs.

"Lahat naman ng nag-attend doon napakinggan nila iyon," PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa said in a radio DZMM interview.

(Everyone who attended there heard that.)

"It's a challenge on my leadership, kahit na OIC ako, that I should do something about the impression of the President. Hindi naman kailangan ko pang, 'Sir ano bang gawin natin?' Dapat may initiative ako kung anong dapat kong gawin at ipiniprepara ko iyan," he added.

(I don't need to ask, 'Sir, what should we do.' I should have initiative on what I should do and I'm already preparing that.)

Gamboa was appointed OIC after the previous PNP chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde, stepped down amid allegations that he protected 13 subordinates accused of pilfering 160 kilos of methamphetamine in 2013, a charge that Albayalde denied.

A dismissal order against the 13 Pampanga officers was downgraded to demotion after they filed a motion for reconsideration. The separate criminal cases against them were dismissed due to lack of evidence, said Albayalde.

REVIEW OF 'NINJA COPS' CASE

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As OIC, Gamboa said he has "disciplinary authority" to review the case.

"Abogado naman ako and baka matingnan natin nang maayos. Rest assured sa publiko, wala itong bias," he said.

(I'm a lawyer and we could look at this properly. Rest assured to the public, this won't be biased.)

The case could be forwarded to other summary hearing offices if he is not satisfied with the appreciation of the evidence, he said.

He said he has also tasked the police Internal Affairs Service and Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management to present its backlog and timeframe in resolving cases during an evaluative conference on Saturday.

Gamboa said he will also hold another command conference next Wednesday.

A classmate of Albayalde at the Philippine Military Academy, Gamboa is one of 3 candidates for PNP chief, including Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan, who is set to move up as deputy chief for operations, and Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, who was recently promoted as chief of the Directorial Staff, the PNP's 4th highest post.